Musharraf, world leaders call for reviving true image of Islam

Islamabad, Nov 6 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today called for restructuring of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its effective contribution to the socio-economic development of the Muslim World.

''The OIC should be able to play a central role in portraying true spirit of Islam as the religion of peace and tolerance, he stressed while speaking at a round-table organised under the auspices of the ongoing three-day World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here today.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawi, former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranika Kumaratunga and former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke are the other members of the elite penal.

Gen Musharraf urged the major world players to help resolve political disputes, mainly the Palestinian issue, to end global turmoil.

"The OIC is the only vehicle for creating unity and its restructuring is the only way forward," he said of the 57-country Islamic grouping which, he added, was currently incapable to deliver.

The President called for removing misperceptions about Islam and creating awareness among the people about its true essence and spirit.

"We need to inform the world about the reality that Islam is not what they see in form of extremism and militancy but the religion that propagates peace and harmony," he added.

Meanwhile Bob Hawke, pointing at reports of a decade of high economic growth rate around the world, regretted that the Muslim countries have not been able to reap as much gains as the rest of the world.

"It is a great tragedy that the Islamic countries are not sharing this spectacular growth," he said and attributed it to lack of high education, particularly in sciences and their poorly developed industrial and technological sectors.

Melaysian premier Abdullah Badawi also called for solving the problem of sectarianism in Muslim societies and termed it a stumbling block to the economic progress and prosperity of the Muslim countries.

"Today, the problem is among the Muslims. The problem of sectarianism and jealousy is a serious problem and must be solved immediately," he said.

Former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranika Kumaratunga urged the Muslim countries to forge closer ties and build linkages and interdependencies for closer economic cooperation.

Ms Kumaratunga, pointing at many of the ills afflicting the Muslim countries, called for urgent measures to address poverty alleviation and stressed skill development programmes and education besides creation of employment opportunities UNI XC PM VA RN2043