SARGODHA, Aug 10: The present regime is determined to make the country a liberal, progressive and terror-free state as envisaged by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

This was stated by Federal Interior Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat while speaking at a seminar on ‘Future of Pakistan, Tolerance, Liberal Economy and Democracy’ arranged by Liberal Forum, Sargodha chapter, here on Saturday evening.

The interior minister said that no one would be allowed to sabotage the peaceful atmosphere of the country by exploiting religious and political sentiments of the people.

He blamed politicians for the political instability, but hoped the democracy would flourish under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf, who introduced the broad-based district government system in the country.

The present regime had suppressed with iron hands the fundamentalists and obscurant elements whose activities were against the interest of the country, he said.

The government, he said, had adopted tolerance in politics, religion, economy and social order and fixed its priorities keeping in view the requirements of the 21st century.

“We welcome opposition if it is sincere in building a progressive and liberal modern state based on Islamic norms”, he said. He said that he had full regards for the ARD chief, but unfortunately he had left the path of democracy.

He said that Makhdoom Amin Faheem had initiated the dialogue for formation of the government and never talked about the LFO. Despite getting themselves registered under the LFO and then contesting the general elections, he said all the political and religious parties were now opposing it for gaining cheap popularity.

The religious parties should not mix religion with politics for that there was no link between the religion and democracy. He alleged that they were doing politics in the name of religion just to gain personal gains.

The interior minister blamed that at least 42 mosques in the capital alone were built on the state land while the religion did not allow encroachment in the name of Islam.

Being a political leader, he said he might not agree with the inclusion of 58(2) B, but it had saved the country from 1985 to 1997 and when it was removed it brought military rule and crisis of Oct 12. Liberal Forum Punjab Coordinator Asif Khan, Sargodha chapter Coordinator Mukhtar Mirza, Sargodha Press Club president Sajjad Abbas Niazi, MNA Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, MPA Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha and PBC member Tasadduq Hussain Baloch also spoke on the occasion. — Correspondent