ISLAMABAD, March 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has called upon the nation to promote tolerance, brotherhood and unity in Muharram to make Pakistan a prosperous and Islamic welfare state, while declaring the advent of Muharram as the month of dignity and respect.

In his message on Muharram, the President said: “The holy month demands that each one of us should promote mutual love and brotherhood, tolerance and harmony in our ranks so that we can fulfil our responsibilities vis a vis bringing about national unity and country’s prosperity.”

Following is the text of the President’s message:

“First of all, I offer greetings on the advent of new Islamic year. The Holy Quran has declared the month of Muharram-ul-Harram as the month of dignity and respect. This month has great significance as the Islamic calendar began with this and it also signified the advent of the Hijra year.

“The holy month demands that each one of us should promote mutual love and brotherhood, tolerance and harmony in our ranks so that we can fulfil our responsibilities vis-a-vis bringing about national unity and country’s prosperity. Be mindful that being Muslims a two-fold responsibility devolves upon us in accordance with the injunctions of the Holy Quran we should not only respect each other’s beliefs and ideas but also in the light of universal teachings of Islam, we should never become a source of suffering for human beings of any race or religion, not even of any other living creature.

“It is also incumbent upon us that, as a living nation, we keep an eye all around us and keep ourselves ready to deal with the situations and events ably. In this context, we should invest more energies, than ever before, to acquire skills and knowledge that would enable us to earn for Pakistan a distinctive place in the comity of nations and make our country prosperous and a welfare state.

“I pray that Allah Almighty may enable us to understand the importance and blessings of this holy month and bestow upon us the passion and courage to work honestly and devotedly for the sovereignty, stability and prosperity of our beloved country, both individually and collectively (Amen).”