Denouncing the London bombings as âun-Islamicâ, President Pervez Musharraf accused banned militant groups on Monday of forcing their ideology on others and said some religious seminaries were involved in terrorism. Addressing a national youth conference organised by the Youth Affairs Ministry, President Musharraf said nothing in the Quran allowed for the July 7 attacks that killed at least 55 people. âLaunching bomb attacks in London in the name of Islam is not Islam,â he said.He accused banned militant organisations Jaish Mohammad and Sipah-e-Sahaba of forcing their ideology upon others, although he did not link them to the London bombing. He also took aim at religious seminaries that have been accused of helping to inspire the London attacks. âYes, today, some madrassas are involved in extremism and terrorism,â he said, adding that the seminaries should stick to their traditional role of producing scholars, doctors and engineers. He also urged the Pakistani youth to struggle against extremism and sectarianism and play a role for peace and prosperity in the country.
He said the youth, which formed 25 percent of the Pakistani population, was destined to play an important role for a prosperous future by rejecting extremist elements and bringing forward a moderate and dedicated leadership at the grassroot level. âRegressive elements must be rejected by the whole nation, as they will hamper the countryâs march to progress,â he added. âTherefore, it is imperative to marginalize such elements to make Pakistan a dynamic and progressive Islamic republic,â he said.