ISLAMABAD, April 10: President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday said Pakistan will serve as a fountainhead of Islamic renaissance and urged leaders of all Muslim countries to strive for socio-economic uplift of their people and also encourage understanding true essence of Islam, which is a dynamic and progressive religion.

Addressing a seminar on Islam and the Modern World, organized jointly by the Institute of Strategic Studies and English Speaking Union of Pakistan, the president also renewed his call for mandatory contribution by each Islamic country to enable the OIC to deliver in terms of their scientific and technological development.

In his hour-long address the president also underscored that Islam is in consonance with modernisation as the religion stands for improving the “inner character and living conditions” of the people.

“Islam is not in conflict with modernisation — it is for all times — it is progressive and dynamic — it is in consonance with modernisation as it aims at development of people — teachings of Islam are in line with democracy, progress and rights of minorities.”

President Musharraf said Islam suffers from misperceptions, which are reinforced by actions of a minority of obscurants and a lack of understanding the great religion in its true spirit.

“Islam is not anti-development or anti-democracy — in fact, moderation and tolerance are bedrock of teachings of Islam,” he said.—APP