ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday urged the nation to reject opposition’s politics of confrontation and protests and help the government in its efforts to take the country forward on the path of development and progress.

“The masses have rejected these elements in the past and they should reject such elements in future as well,” he said in a brief statement and in response to newsmen’s questions at the Aiwan-i-Sadr after securing majority in the presidential election.

The president appealed to the masses not to support elements instigating them to create turmoil in the society by giving calls for protests and strikes.Terming the presidential election a historic event, he said the domestic situation required a policy of reconciliation.

He said that the opposition also should shun the policy of confrontation and promote reconciliation.

Gen Musharraf called upon lawyers to take the course of peace and justice. “The lawyers are an educated community and the prevailing situation requires peace and their support,” he added.

He also asked the media to adopt a balanced approach and create an atmosphere of confidence and hope and avoid creating despondency. He said he was a strong supporter of independent media which was playing an important role.

The president said the opposition parties should shun their policy of confrontation and political victimisation. The opposition should create an atmosphere in which the winning and losing parties worked hand in hand for the country’s progress and prosperity, he added.

Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was passing through a transitional phase, as the period from 1999 to 2002 was one of a military rule in which the country was retrieved from economic collapse and put on the path of economic development and growth.

The second phase between 2002 and 2007, he said, was of a sort of civil-military regime because he was in uniform. But now in the third phase, it was a transition to a complete civilian rule, he added.

Answering a question, he said the National Reconciliation Ordinance was aimed at creating an atmosphere of conciliation and it would apply to all.--- APP