ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: President General Pervez Musharraf has urged the nation to maintain ‘‘the spirit of democracy’’ and asked political leaders to show tolerance to ensure a stable, strong and prosperous Pakistan.

“We are faced with heightened activity by forces of extremism and militancy who threaten the very foundations and ideology of Pakistan. They can be countered effectively only through national consensus and political harmony,” the president said in a message on Eidul Fitr.

He called upon the nation to work together on “a minimum agreeable national agenda” which focuses on eliminating extremism and militancy, promoting welfare of people, sustaining economic development and protecting the country’s ‘vital strategic interests’.

He recalled Pakistan’s first Eidul Fitr celebrated within a few days of its independence 60 years back.

“Since then, Pakistan has come a long way. We have, as a nation today left behind days of despair and disappointment and have moved ahead towards progress and development,” he claimed.

“We have at times faltered only to stand up yet again and keep marching towards our cherished destiny,” he added.

The president said that on the occasion of Eid this year “we find ourselves at a crossroads again.”

“Having lost nearly two decades in political acrimony, turmoil and trauma arising out of extreme polarisation, we have in the past eight years regained our moorings and rehabilitated our economy beyond expectations.”

This, he said, had been achieved through sheer hard work and commitment of the people of Pakistan and those who were entrusted with the administration and governance of the country following the events of October 12, 1999.

The president claimed that in the past eight years, efforts had been made to stabilise the country’s politics.

“Pakistan cannot afford politics of victimisation and vendetta that saw us in the wilderness in the decades of the nineties. We must not let that happen again,” the president said.

“It has, therefore, been our effort to bring all divergent elements together on a minimum agreeable national agenda that promotes the welfare of the people, creates peace and stability to sustain economic development, and protects our strategic interests,” Gen Musharraf said.—APP