Musharraf vows complete transition to democracy in few months

Islamabad, Oct 31 (UNI) Warning anti-democratic forces against hindering restoration of people's rule in the country, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said only a few months have left in the final transition to a complete representative governance.

''We will not let anyone create any obstacle in transition towards democracy...Only a few months are left in completion of the third phase in transition towards democracy,'' the President said.

Gen Musharraf condemned yesterday's suicide attack in Rawalpindi, in which seven people were killed, saying, ''Islam does not allow killing of fellow Muslims.'' He said in the first phase from 1999 to 2002, he was managing the affairs of the State while in the second five-year phase from 2002-2007, Parliament was fully functional and he had an advisory role.

The President said the government will conduct a ''well-planned operation'' in the frontier region of Swat to counter growing extremist activities there.

''These terrorists do not understand the language of weakness, therefore we have to show strength,'' he said, while inaugurating the 154-km six-lane M-1 Motorway linking Islamabad with Peshawar yesterday.

Urging the militant groups to surrender, the military ruler said, ''Pakistan is on the path of progress and prosperity..let it move ahead..do not push it back.'' The President said Pakistan was progressing rapidly in all areas, including health, education, communications and claimed that national revenue had grown from Rs 306 billion during 1988-99 to around a trillion.

UNI