PESHAWAR, March 2: Highlighting that Pakistan had become the hub of economic activity and a transit point for Central Asian Republics, China and India, President Pervez Musharraf said here on Wednesday that peace was a prerequisite for development.

Addressing a public meeting here, the president urged people to stand up to those supporting extremism and terrorism in the country. He said that foreign militants based in South Waziristan had been offered amnesty but they were misusing their stay by indulging in extremism and terrorism.

"Those people refused to surrender and instead kidnapped Chinese who were building Gomal Zam dam," he said. Gen Musharraf said that any act of terrorism committed anywhere in the world, including Africa, Spain or Europe, invariably found its connections in South Waziristan.

Terrorists, he said, had their logistic base in South Waziristan where they had been getting training in explosives and funding. "Reject the elements who are pushing the country towards anarchy and accept those who believe in enlightened moderation," he said.

"Don't vote for those who spread hatred, vote for those who are moderate and are enlightened." The president steered clear of criticising the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal by name but said that some elements were bent upon pushing the country backwards by two hundred years.

The army polo ground where the public meeting was held was a few hundred meters from the residence of senior MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad. Later, while responding to demands made by the district nazim Pervez Khattak, the president announced supply of gas, construction of a sports stadium and a federal government college for Nowshera.