01 June 2004	Tuesday	12 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate a two-day international seminar on the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) here on Tuesday that will draw scholars from 40 member states to evolve a unified response to multiple challenges that the Muslim world faces today.

The seminar titled: 'OIC: Challenge and Response - Enlightened Moderation' is a follow-up to President Musharraf's proposal of establishing the OIC Commission of Eminent Persons to prepare a new framework for revitalization of the Islamic Conference at the 10th Islamic Summit Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, last year.

At a time when two OIC member states are under foreign occupation, of which one became the target of the United States' first pre-emptive war, and others are being threatened with the same fate, the seminar acquires special significance. It also coincides with the crucial US-Britain draft resolution on Iraq being debated in the UN Security Council.

The seminar participants, including 50 leading scholars, researchers and academics from OIC member states, will deliberate on various aspects of the concept of 'Enlightened Moderation'.

These include revitalization and unity of the Islamic Ummah; reforms to address social and economic deficits and to enhance capacity in education, science & technology; shunning of extremism; help from the Western countries to resolve issues involving Muslims, such as Palestine and Kashmir; proactive approach by developed countries to aid Muslim countries in their socio-economic development challenges and averting a clash and confrontation among civilizations.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairperson of the seminar and Pakistan's nominee for the OIC Commission of the Eminent Persons on Enlightened moderation, will conduct the proceedings.

"The primary objective will be to look at ways and means to strengthen the Ummah from within and without, and to help it rise to the role of leadership that it deserves," foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said on the eve of the seminar being hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Musharraf formally presented the concept of 'Enlightened Moderation' to the 10th OIC summit but had introduced it at the 58th UN General Assembly session in September 2003. The 10th Islamic summit adopted a resolution on Enlightened Moderation in October 2003, which included the setting up of 'OIC Commission of the Eminent Persons.'

Pakistan has been advocating the need to use the institutional platform of the OIC to take a unified stand on challenges facing the Muslim world, particularly to counter effectively the attempt to isolate and demonize the Muslim world in the aftermath of Sept 11 terror attacks on the US landmarks.

It is generally believed that given Pakistan's geo-strategic position, it is uniquely poised to show the way forward to the Muslim Ummah. The fact that Pakistan is the only nuclear power in the Islamic world, it has a seat in UN Security Council and it is a frontline state in the international war against terrorism also gives it a special standing in the pan-Islamic world that looks up to it for counsel and leadership

"We want to make the OIC a credible interlocutor with the UN, the US, and the West," notes a senior foreign ministry official who says Pakistan's message to the participants from other member states would be to engage constructively with the rest of the world. There has been scathing criticism of the OIC for not playing an effective role as a global Islamic body representing about a fourth of the world's population.