ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday expressed the confidence that the present crisis facing the Muslim world would be over soon.

He urged the Organization of Islamic Conference to play an active role “in projecting the correct image of Islam as a religion of peace, progress and tolerance.”

The president said this at an Iftar-dinner he hosted for ambassadors of Muslim countries at the Aiwan-i-Sadr. He had also invited some political leaders and the OIC Secretary-General Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz who is at present in Pakistan.

Welcoming the OIC chief, President Musharraf said: “Let us unite, to demonstrate to the world the greatness of Islam as a religion that forcefully condemns terrorism and teaches tolerance, peace and progress for all.”

He said: “We are weak, because we are divided.”

“Now, is the time for all of us to unite so that our people can achieve examplary progress and advancement,” he stressed.

Besides the OIC secretary- general, those who attended the Iftar-dinner were NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah, federal ministers, chief of the naval staff and chief of the air staff, president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir, diplomats from Muslim countries and high officials.

The politicians who attending the Iftar-dinner included Sardar Farooq Ahmad Leghari, Imran Khan, Pir Sibghatullah Pagaro, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Mian Mohammad Azhar, Ajmal Khattak, Asfandyar Wali, Hamid Nasir Chattha, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Fatehyab Ali Khan, Allama Ajmal Qadri, Arbab Abdul Rahim and Allama Sajid Naqvi.—APP

Leaders of three main political parties — Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Jamaat-i-Islami — were not invited at the Iftar dinner, adds Faraz Hashmi.

Convener of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and MQM leader Aftab Shiekh were among those who had the invitation but stayed away.