LAHORE, Sept 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday said he was keen to strengthen the democratic system in the country and held out an assurance that assemblies would complete their five-year term.

Addressing members of the Punjab Assembly at the governor’s house, the president said it was his ambition that assemblies got on with work for five years, followed by a general election to bring about a peaceful transfer of power so as to consolidate democracy.

He said he was addressing parliamentarians from Punjab with a clear heart, good intention and firm commitment.

Gen Musharraf said he was delighted to see that the prevailing democratic system was helping to sort out people’s problems besides chalking out long-terms programmes for their benefit.

Referring to Pakistan’s role in the Muslim world, the president said: “As a nuclear state, we must know the destiny of the nation...we can’t prosper without pulling ourselves out of illiteracy, poverty and hunger”.

Regarding Pakistan’s position in the comity of nations, he pointed out that focus had shifted from the Middle East to Indo-Pakistan, eventually turning Kashmir into a flash point.

Pakistan, he said, could play a leading role in the Muslim world because it was in a position to combat terrorism. He pointed out that a policy of confrontation, extremism and hatred would not work.

The president called upon the legislators to play their due role in curbing sectarianism and religious extremism which was bringing a bad name to the country.

He underlined the need for projecting Pakistan as an enlightened, modern Islamic country.

The MPAs, he pointed out, needed to play a more positive role by ensuring that mosques and Madaris in their areas were not used for fanning sectarianism and religious bigotry.

Saying that not all religious schools were involved in this exercise, the president said they were the “greatest NGOs in the world”.

He said Ummah should resolve its political disputes in a way that justice should be seen to have been done. Ummah, he stated, was already disunited on certain issues and suggested restructuring of the Organization of Islamic Conference.

“A nuclear Pakistan is the leader of the Muslim world,” he said. “With a burgeoning population of 140 million people, we must realize our importance. I have sent letters to the leaders of the Ummah for re-uniting on one platform.”

The president called for settling of the Palestinian issue to ensure peace in the Middle East.

He said militarily and economically Pakistan was equally strong. However, he noted that the country had to do more on the economic front. “We don’t need aid, we need trade that creates job opportunities and stamps out unemployment from society. We are at take-off point...our direction is correct.”

He ruled out any political role for the two former prime ministers now living abroad. “They had squandered national wealth and would not be allowed to return to active politics. That is the bottomline.”

The president said the opposition had a role to play in a democracy, saying healthy opposition was good for democracy.

He called upon political parties to show maturity and tolerance and make efforts to strengthen democracy.

Noting the sense of deprivation among the people of Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP, he emphasized the need for removing these apprehensions. He said Punjab must show more magnanimity and large heartedness. The president said he would visit various districts in Sindh to allay the fear of people on the water issues.

Referring to the gravity of water problem, he said the country would have to construct one or two major dams by 2015 to meet its water requirements.

He said due to lack of water downstream from the Kotri Barrage and surge of sea water inwards, the Thatta district had turned barren.

Gen Musharraf was of the view that the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord be revived as a way out to solve all issues relating to water distribution among the provinces.—APP