Pakistan on Tuesday marked the 60th anniversary of its Independence amid heightened security alert with the country’s top leadership pledging to establish political stability and not allow any nation violate its sovereignty.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz praised Pakistan’s emergence as an independent nation, but warned the people they must not succumb to extremism.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz hoisted the national flag at an auditorium here amid tight security in which only select guests were allowed. Security in Islamabad was beefed up due to threats of suicide attacks by suspected pro-Taliban militants.

Both the leaders pledged not to allow any nation violate Pakistan’s sovereignty, apparently directed at many officials and politicians in the US where there has been demand for unilateral action against militants finding safe havens in the Islamic nation.

In a statement marking the anniversary, President Musharraf urged Pakistanis to reject extremism, terming it the country’s basic problem that needs to be confronted as it was a serious threat to peace, security and development.

“I urge all Pakistani citizens to get involved in the electoral process and become the instruments of enlightened moderation in their beloved country,” Musharraf said.

Foreign investors
The President also assured that there will be political stability in Pakistan and wanted the foreign investors to feel secure. “We will go through the election process and there will be political stability in Pakistan,” he said.
Stressing that Kashmir issue occupies a pivotal place in Pakistan’s foreign policy, Prime Minister Aziz in his address said the country firmly believes that the Kashmir problem should be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Musharraf while addressing a special interactive programme on PTV said Al-Qaeda and other terrorist elements were hiding in country’s tribal areas and were involved in terrorist activities, APP newsagency reported.
The president regretted that certain misguided Muslims too were moving on the path of extremism and were involved in bomb blasts and acts against the Pakistan Army. He said Pakistan was waging this struggle against the terrorist and extremist elements in its national interest and “it is time that the entire nation rises against them.”