SHEIKHPURA, Nov 11: President Pervez Musharraf has termed terrorism and extremism the only threat confronting Pakistan, urging people to vote for progressive forces in the next elections.

"Pakistan has only one internal threat that is extremism and terrorism," he said.

He was addressing a large gathering after inaugurating the four-lane Lahore-Sheikkhpura-Faisalabad dual carriageway.

"If we don't stand up to terrorism and extremism, they will destroy Pakistan like termites," the President said amid slogans of support for his policies.

"We are with you," the people chanted as the president urged them to help the government eliminate terrorism and extremism.

Referring to the last month’s air strike on a Bajaur seminary, President Musharraf rejected the claim that the people who had been killed in the attack were innocent people.

"Whoever is saying that is telling a lie. They were all militants who were being trained as terrorists and suicide bombers and were all between the ages of 20 to 35," he said.

The government took action after monitoring their activities for a year, the president said, one such suicide bomber, who had been trained in Bajaur, killed 42 innocent young people in Dargai.

"Suicide is forbidden in Islam ... They are tarnishing the image of Islam which is the religion of peace and tolerance," he added.

President Musharraf said that those who support the terrorist and extremist elements did not want to see Pakistan progress and were trying to create chaotic situation to hinder development.—APP