ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday asked ulema to help government promote religious harmony and prevent extremist elements from committing terror acts in the country.

The two leaders were speaking at a meeting held with a group of ulema drawn from various schools of thought at the president's camp office in Rawalpindi, according to an official handout.

They called for a joint strategy to spread the message of unity and brotherhood in the country and to stop fringe elements from perpetrating terror crime against innocent people.

The president and the prime minister condemned the recent wave of terror acts in various cities, saying it was inconceivable that a Muslim should kill fellow Muslims while they were offering prayers in a mosque.

"We have to forge unity in our ranks, shun discord, (and) develop mutual trust and understanding and stop issuing fatwas against each other and prevent extremists from imposing their views on others as Islam stands for tolerance, peace and well-being of all," they were quoted as having said at the meeting.

President Musharraf said that terrorist acts by a few misguided persons not only tarnished the image of Islam but also gave rise to misperceptions about the country.

"We are not living in isolation but are part of an inter-dependent world where all the states and people irrespective of their faith and ideology have to interact with each other for peace, harmony and sustainable development," he emphasized.

In their speeches, the ulema assured the two leaders of their support to efforts aimed at promoting sectarian harmony. Later, both leaders along with the participants of meeting offered the Friday prayer which was followed by dua for peace and prosperity of and harmony in the country.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Ijazul Haq, and Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain also attended the meeting.