"If we don't put our act together there will be sectarian catastrophe within the Islamic world," he said addressing the convocation of the Army Medical College. "Islamic world is heading towards a crisis," Musharraf said and added it will be "most terrible if we, as a nation do not rise to the occasion, do not put our house in order and resolve the turmoil in the world as it can affect us also."
The President however expressed confidence that the nation will rise to the occasion and urged it to consolidate itself internally and follow the slogan of "Pakistan First".
"The world leaders are looking to bring peace to the world and Pakistan can play a pivotal role in this regard," he added. President General Pervez Musharraf said the only solution was to reject forces that fanned hatred, led to sectarian strife and involved extremist forces.
He particularly asked the educated sections of society to participate in the electoral process in the next election and vote against all those who have any extremist agenda. He said in an Islamic society there was no place for any obscurantist elements that were trying to polarise the society by creating divisions, or imposing their own will.