President, PM urge people to rebuild Pakistan on Iqbals vision

ISLAMABAD (APP) - President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the people to resolve on the birth anniversary of the poet philosopher Allama Iqbal to rebuild Pakistan by drawing inspiration from his vision. It was unfortunate that in the country envisioned by Iqbal, Islam has been ruthlessly exploited by extremists and militants to foist their narrow agendas on the people in the name of religion.
The extremists and militants have rejected the Constitution, the Federation and institutions of democracy only to capture power in the name of religion. This cannot be allowed; it will not be, the president said in his message on the occasion of Allama Iqbals birth anniversary.
He said the need for understanding Iqbals concept of the message of Islam and the need for forward movement in human thought was never as great as it is today. The President said Iqbal believed that nothing remained static and stationary. He believed in and advocated forward movement in human thought, he said, adding, We need to encourage forward movement in philosophical thought instead of abandoning the interpretation of Islamic teachings to any individual or group.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has stressed the need to follow Iqbals teachings to retrieve the country from challenges it is facing. The teachings of Iqbal are no doubt the beacon of light for our country in the current circumstances, he added.
The PM said it would not be illogical to state that Iqbals saying Utho Meri Dunya Ke Gharibown Ko Jaga Do was not mere poetry but a call to create such an economic system which is free from deprivation, injustice and inequality. Gilani said PPP still belongs to that ideology and actively working towards its implementation.
The PM said the present government is striving for national security, development and welfare of masses in the circumstances, which require national unity, reconciliation, consensus and futuristic vision and approach.