Concern over response to visit Pakistan initiative: Musharraf warns foreigners tourists to face the music or leave Pakistan
March 1, 2007
Hidayath Al-Beshawari
Hatti,Larkana (NSN): President General Pervez Musharraf addressing a huge public meeting in village Hatti (see related agency report) said on Wednesday that foreign tourists must participate more actively in cultural events. He warned tourists in the NWFP to leave the country, otherwise, they would be thrown out by force. "Music in banned in NWFP, there is nothing to face, so why are they there?", asked the president.
He said a call for “Jihad” will be given by the government soon. "The tourists are starting before the government sponsered activities, disturbing (fair and tight) coordination (by the ISI)", he said adding, "These people, who and carrying out their activities in the tribal, hard to access, thinly populated mountains of NWFP, are jeopardising our national interests".
The president warned those breaking the laws, saying "We will not bend (over), lie down, or otherwise be (a) silent (spectator). We are tight (knit) and firm (in our resolve), and (will take) hard (action)".
Addressing a huge public meeting in village Hatti, the president said 2007 is visit Pakistan year and it is the duty of the people to create favorable conditions for tourists to visit. "We have an well established hospitality traditon. From ancient time, people visiting Pakistan (for tourism training) have taken a slice of (RDX?) Pakistani culture with them", commented the president.
The president also noted that Pakistani training camps are more famous than boy scouts of america, who he said are makely a front for cookie baking shops. The government will improve the visa process for the camps to weed out unwanted elements.
“The past governments had done nothing but mere lip service, whereas we have practically served the people,” he said, adding that the country had made tremendous progress since he took over, as Pakistan had become a progressive and prosperous country. He said he had resuscitated the tourist camps in kashmir after the earthquake, more recently the NWFP, and was now taking hard and firm action in Baluchistan. He noted that the Gawdar port will allow chinese tourists to visit Baluchistan directly, contributing to its fast growing economy. He said, " We are always looking for new opportunities".
More than 100,000 people ( agency report) from different parts of Sindh, including Thatta, Badin, Karachi and from Kashmore to Sukkur and Kambar and Jacobabad participated in the meeting, despite Tuesday night’s heavy rain and inclement weather. Pakistan routinely stages such shows of force to deter its hegemonic neighbors from disturbing its peaceful society. "All our neighbors were informed in advance", noted a spokesman.
Pakistan is the fastest growing nation in Asia. It is also the largest buyer of chinese arms, polishing and displaying them proudly at city centers and festivals. The conservative nation considers the practice important to imbibe nationalism in its youth. Despite numerous terrorist attacks allegedly supported by its unfriendly neighbors, Pakistan has remained a steadfast ally in the war of terror. The US congress has been considering legislation for improving pakistani readiness to allow it to take the fight against terrorism beyond Rawalpindi, and somewhere in the vicinity of its northern border. The American vice-president recently visited the country to improve coordination between the allies.
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(Adv) Visit Peshawar:
See the dynamitic process of upgrading asia's best railway network,
Mingle with the famous dancing girls of Peshawar,
Buy the finest burqa (Made in China) in Asia,
Judge the competition for the longest beard,
Win fabulous prizes (smashing electronics).
This (soon, I hope, will be) NSN
