ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: President General Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that Islam advocates moderation and peaceful co-existence.

“In an Islamic society there is no room for extremism and violence against any other religion or group,” Musharraf said.

The president was talking to a representative delegation of minorities of Pakistan as part of consultation process going on after September 11 attack on two US cities.

He said, the minorities are the essential component of Pakistani society and they are playing their due role as responsible citizens of the country. Pakistan is benefiting from their contribution and talent.

Talking about present situation, the president said, it is regrettable that a small group of people are unable to distinguish between what is in Pakistan’s interest and what is in the interest of its adversaries.

“But the overwhelming majority were fully aware of our supreme national interests and they are supporting the policies of the government following the events of September 11,” he said.

Musharraf said, this overwhelming majority has refused to be misled by a small group.

The president emphasized that Pakistan needed to expand the education sector and enhanced the literacy level. “There is need to strengthen the economy and create opportunities for progress of the people of Pakistan.”

“This could only be achieved if we devote our energies towards the aim of nation building, activating and making effective use of the emerging opportunities,” the president said.

The representatives of minorities appreciated the president’s timely decision to cooperate with international community in fight against terrorism. “We are united behind you (the president) and your policies.”

“Your decision to consult minorities on every important occasion has given us new confidence and renewed our faith and commitment to serve Pakistan,” they said.

Later talking to journalists, ex-federal minister Raja Tridev Rai said that Pakistan was passing through very difficult circumstances and crisis of great magnitude.

“We all are unitedly of the view that President Musharraf has taken a very courageous decision to steer the country in the right direction,” he said.

Raja Tridev hoped that crisis would shortly be over but he wanted to convey the feelings of all minority communities because they have sense of solidarity and appreciation of the decision of the president and government.

A representative of Christian, Alexander John Malik said, the president’s decision to take minorities into confidence gave them a sense of participation in the mainstream of national life.

“We are supporting President Musharraf’s action as it is in the best interest of Pakistan and its solidarity and integrity. Pakistan’s interest would always remain supreme,” he said.

Sham Singh, Pardhan,of Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee said that the minorities were satisfied with the decision of the President and the government. “First comes the Pakistan and we are Pakistani first.”

He said, in this time of crisis the approach of the president is to save the interest of the nation and the country and we appreciate it and support it.

Bhagwan Das Chawla ex-MNA said, the government has taken right decision at right time and all the minorities are behind the president in these difficult moments.

“We will stand by the government shoulder to shoulder as we did during 1965 and 1971 wars and hope that Pakistan would succeed,” he said.—APP