LAHORE, March 23: President Musharraf here on Thursday warned extremists, foreign militants in Waziristan, sardars of Balochistan and exiled leaders in London against their anti-state activities.

Exploitation of religion, terrorism in Pakistan and across the world, blackmailing and depriving the weaker tribesmen of their rights would not be tolerated any more, said the president in a multi-pronged attack he mounted in his 30-minute speech to a huge PML convention at the Minar-i-Pakistan.

An announcement that the president would be attending the ceremony was made 40 minutes after the arrival of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who, till then, was expected to be the star speaker.

The premier, after his arrival by a helicopter, did not take his seat and instead kept standing exchanging pleasantries with other leaders, which confirmed that they all were waiting for the president to reach before starting proceedings.

The prime minister and the chief ministers made brief speeches to enable the president to express his views on all important subjects.

Tight security was seen. Even sniffer dogs had been brought in for security checks. This was perhaps for the first time that the president, as also other leaders, spoke from a rostrum protected by a bullet-proof glass shield.

Though some speakers reiterated the PML’s support for Gen Musharraf for the next term “with his uniform”, the president did not make even a passing reference to this much controversial subject.

Referring to the situation in Waziristan, the president said militants hiding there were violating the sovereignty of the country and held them responsible for spreading terrorism. “I warn them that they should quit Pakistan or we’ll kill them all.”

The general said those supporting them would also not be allowed to live in Pakistan. “We’ll eliminate terrorists and extremists”.

The president alleged that a few sardars were responsible for the unrest in Balochistan. “Their days are numbered. The situation will witness a marked improvement over the next few days,” he said, implying that a stronger action was about to be taken against those fuelling the situation.

The president said people of Bugti, Marri and Mengal tribes, who had been forced by their chieftains to leave their houses and migrate to other areas, were approaching the government with requests that their tormentors should be proceeded against relentlessly.

Maintaining that a number of people had already gone back to their homes because of the steps taken by the government, the president said the rest of them would be regaining the control of their lands soon.

The president said he would soon be going to Dera Bugti to convey a message to sardars that Balochistan belonged to all Balochi people and not to them only.

President Musharraf said that though the government had allocated an unprecedented amount of Rs140 billion for the development of Balochistan, they were opposed to the process.

Some sardars, he said, were opposed to the Gwadar port project and it was for this reason that they had killed Chinese engineers. “The days of their luxuries are over,” said the president in categorical terms.

Regarding the religious elements, who he said were very fond of frequently holding “million-men marches” in which not more than a couple of hundred people participated, Gen Musharraf said extremism and intolerance could not be allowed.

He said some people were misusing religion for their political interests. “They will be dealt with sternly”.

The president said he knew that the exiled leaders based in London had phoned their imprisoned leaders in Pakistan and praised them for their Feb 14 “performance”.

He urged the nation not to support these people. “They loot the country. They want to destroy the country. Throw them out of politics.”

He said the people should support only those who loved the country.

The president reiterated that he would build all dams, including Kalabagh Dam. Making the Badshahi Masjid his witness, he said, he would honour his word.

The president also recalled the honour being accorded to Pakistan by the world, Islamic countries in particular. He claimed that now Pakistan’s opinion on different matters was given importance.

He said Pakistan was no longer begging loans. The country’s economy had improved to an extent that Islamabad had written off loans of various Islamic countries, he said without elaborating.

He said every village in the country would have electricity, gas and safe drinking water by 2007-08. But, he said, to achieve all targets he would be needing people’s cooperation.