RAWALPINDI, Oct 20: Stressing the importance of internal stability for Pakistan to meet both internal and external challenges, President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that the country needed political stability
to counter extremism in order to continue its march on the road to progress.
Addressing a gathering of lawyers, the President said Pakistan had overcome a number of challenges it faced until recent past and now the country must have economic strength, peace, political harmony and true democracy for poverty reduction and long-term progress.
"We all are patriotic Pakistanis and should strive for political stability," he said, adding that all developments should be viewed keeping the national interests supreme.
Pakistan, he said, was on the rise and a great responsibility devolved on the lawyers' community at this crucial time for the country as their pro- active role in the interest of internal stability and strength would be extremely important.
Gen Musharraf said Pakistan had gained international respect and earned a new status due to its policies, including the fight against terror, and now the entire Muslim world was looking towards it for a leading role.
He assured the lawyers community that the government was aware of various problems being faced by them and was taking measures for their redressal, saying that $350 million would be spent on the improvement of the legal system which include improvement in the condition of bars, libraries and administrative facilities.
The lawyers lauded policies of the President, which had elevated Pakistan's standing in the comity of nations. They assured the President of their total support in the continuity of these policies and his vision of making Pakistan a truly dynamic, progressive and moderate Islamic welfare state.-APP
