President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said media is a powerful tool of accountability and its role is extremely important for portraying the positive image of the country.

He was addressing a joint gathering of the officers of Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

The President said that the freedom of media is no doubt essential but it is also the responsibility of media not to create despondency among the masses.

He said that the media should highlight only the issues of national importance and should not try to aggravate the negative issues.

Talking about the judicial issue, the President said that the reference is a purely legal issue and he has nothing to do with it.

President Musharraf said that the reference was referred to him by the Prime Minister and he was bound to send it to the Supreme Judicial Council for further legal process.

He said that the matter is extremely sensitive and only Supreme Court is the deciding authority, adding that the decision of the court will be binding on everyone.

Discussing the issue of Lal Masjid, the President said that we want to resolve the matter with dialogue and not by use of force. But if the status quo remains, use of force will be the last available choice, he said.

He said that administration of the mosque is taking undue advantage of the presence of some 2,500 female students in Jamia Hafsah and is trying to challenge the writ of the government.

Prudence should not be treated as weakness of the government as the maintenance of law and order will be made possible at any cost, he added.

The President stated that the present government has won unprecedented support and confidence of masses by contributing to their socio-economic uplift through its people-friendly policies.

He said that an increase in the GDP growth rate, per capita income and foreign remittances indicate that national economy has witnessed a rapid growth during the last 5 to 7 years and the country is now well on its way to progress and development.

President Musharraf said the present government has generated a lot of employment opportunities for youth of the country through skill development by NAVTEC, a vocational training centre and also through the National Internship Programme.

He said that the government has provided a great relief to the people in recently announced budget for financial year 2007-08 and besides an increase of 15 per cent in salaries and 20 per cent in pension, the prices of common household items have also been regulated for the betterment of the poorest of the poor.

The President said that the armed forces of Pakistan are a well organized, professional and unified institution and is the bedrock of our national stability.

He stressed that the stability of the armed forces is strength of our country. The defence of Pakistan has been made impregnable and now Pakistan is very strong, he added.

President Musharraf said that we have equipped our armed forces with latest technology and equipments and now they are in a better position to face any challenge to our national integrity.

The President was presented an aviation painting by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed that was painted by the renowned aviation artist Group Captain (Retd) Hussaini.

Earlier, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed called on President General Pervez Musharraf at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

Source: The News
Original author: Associated Press of Pakistan