| Is this something like a baseball strike? When do you anticipate they can go back to their national passtime? |
Pakistani leaders urged people to shun extremism and foster peace and brotherhood in messages on Sunday to mark the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz asked the predominantly Muslim nation to absorb Islam's teachings of enlightenment in their true sprit to rid society of sectarianism and extremism.
| "Arrr! We'll rid the nation of sectarianism and extremism, alright! We'll kill 'em all!" |
"That indeed is the right path, which can lead the Muslims today to regain their past glory," Musharraf said. Aziz in a separate message called on his countrymen to continue their fight against the twin menaces of extremism and terrorism until they were fully eliminated. "Stand up to hatred and tyranny with full might and spread the teachings of Islam that promote peace and love for all," he added. Of the total 150 million population of this South Asian country, Muslims constitute 97 per cent, while the remaining 3 per cent comprises minorities, mainly Christians. Sectarian-related clashes and bomb attacks have claimed the lives of at least 162 people in Pakistan this year, although the majority of Pakistani Muslims, about 80 per cent Sunni and 17 per cent Shiite, largely live together peacefully. |