"This is a constitutional and judicial matter. The decision would be constitutional and to be taken by the judiciary itself...whatever decision it (SJC) takes would be acceptable to me", the President categorically stated while addressing a big public meeting here, with reference to a constitutional reference against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The President said he has all the respect for the judiciary and the Supreme Judicial Council and believed that it (SJC) would deliver justice. He, however, regretted that the issue, which is a constitutional and judicial matter, was being politicised and used for political point-scoring through the lawyers' community.
The President said he couldn't speak more on the issue, as it is a sub judice matter. He, however, added: "Once the decision is taken by the SJC, I would address the nation on TV and take them into confidence about the issue".
He also set aside the impression that the lawyers' community was not with the government, and mentioned and hailed the presence of a large number of lawyers in the public meeting.
The President also referred to the agitation of some lawyers before the Supreme Court building in Islamabad and in Lahore and said only a small segment of the lawyers community were there and that too for political purposes.
GENERAL ELECTIONS: President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday called upon the people to vote for those forces who are with him, to strengthen the democracy and for continuity of the policies of present government, which are aimed at putting the country on the path of development, progress and prosperity.
"True democracy has been established in the country. The local bodies and Senate have successfully completed their tenures, while the elections of National and Provincial Assemblies will be held by the end of this year", the President said while addressing a big public meeting here.
Governor Punjab, Lieutenant General Khalil Maqbool(R), Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and District Nazim Gujranwala, Muhammad Fiaz Chatha also addressed the public meeting, which was attended by a number of federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, Tehsil and Union Council Nazims. He said that the elements involved in the negative politics, did not want the democratic system to take roots in Pakistan.
The President also urged the people to reject extremism and terrorism in its forms and manifestations and said, "this is eating us like termite internally and is affecting our image externally." He referred to the recent killing of a provincial minister Zill-e-Huma in Gujranwala by an insane person and regretted that he (murderer) killed the lady in the name of religion.
The President also referred to a letter received by him in which the parents of a boy had sought his help in recovery of their son taken away and misled by some Jihadi organisation. "Do not let you misled by such people", he stressed. The President also dispelled the wrong impression about the missing persons and said the present government does not believe in such politics.
He called upon the people to use their influence to guide such people who want to create anarchy in society. "Do not let you children to be misled. There is no danger to Islam in Pakistan and no law can be made against the spirit of Islam in country," he added. The President said, Pakistan was a nuclear and missile power and we have to take this forward on the path of progress and prosperity.
ECONOMY: President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday called for creating synergy between industry and the educational institutions to help expedite the process of economic development in the country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of sub-campus of Punjab University here, he said, "Natural resources alone are not sufficient to bring about prosperity in a country; we have to go for more value addition and optimisation of resources as these are pre-requisites for an economy in the present-day knowledge driven world."
Earlier, the President unveiled a plaque to inaugurate the sub-campus of and also planted a sapling there. Punjab governor and PUU Chancellor Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Vice Chancellor Arshad Mahmood, Gujranwala Campus DG Professor Dr Liaqat Ali, Registrar, Professor Dr Naeem and other faculty members as well as students in a large number attended the ceremony.
President Musharraf said that the Punjab University was the oldest seat of learning in the sub-continent, adding that the establishment of new sub-campus was indeed a great step. He said that 13 campuses of various universities had been set up in Punjab, which would definitely help ensure provisions of quality education to the people of the province.
The President said that huge funds were being spent for the improvement of education arid health sectors, which had become possible only due to better performance of national economy with an average growth rate of 7% over the last four years. He announced Rs 5 million grant for the Gujranwala sub-campus of the Punjab University.
"I have directed the chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) to support and provide funds to the new campuses", he said, adding that HEC was receiving Rs 600 million annually till the year 1999. However, he said, the annual budget of the commission had reached up to Rs 22 billion this year, reflecting a 4,600 percent increase in the allocations.
"I think this amount for education is still less. "We will increase this fund every year. Currently 2.7 percent of the GDP is being spent on education and we will enhance it up to four percent", he said.
He also commended the initiative of online lectures at the campus and said this should be replicated at other educational institutions of the country as well. Lectures through video conferencing is an effective means to use faculty properly end to impart education to a maximum possible number of students at the same time, he added.
President Musharraf congratulated the PU Chancellor and VC for their efforts in establishing the sub-campus and lauded the Chief Minister for support and keen interest in acquisition of land and building for the sub-campus and hoped that he would continue with the same spirit for acquisition of land for other campuses.youth urged to follow Islamic principles of tolerance.
LAHORE: President Pervez Musharraf urged the youth to adopt the principles of tolerance and broad-mindedness enshrined in Islam to ensure their grooming in line with the global trends. He was addressing at the 18th convocation of University of Engineering Technology here on Thursday.
Punjab Governor, Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd), Vice Chancellor of the University Lieutenant General Muhammad Akram (Retd), Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Atta-ur-Rehamn Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Muhammad Akram Shaikh and a number of academicians and senior officials were present on the occasion. The President said good character along with physical, social and intellectual grooming are key to success in life.
"I advise you youngsters to learn to behave in a harmonious manner while dealing with your subordinates, superiors and other people in life," he said. He praised the students for holding a most lively convocation appreciated role of administration of the university for purging the campus of various ills and restoring status of the university as leading engineering institute in the country. The President emphasised the need for promoting knowledge-based economy in the country to alleviate the problems of poverty and unemployment.