Islamabad, July 12: Ahead of visits by US and British leaders, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight asked anti-national foreign elements from Afghanistan to surrender and renewed his pledge to wipe out terrorism.
In an hour-long televised address to the nation, Musharraf also talked about the October general elections, structure of the National Security Council headed by him and ruled out the possibility of imposition of martial law in the country.
He said that the 11-member NSC which will have powers to sack the Prime Minister and the cabinet would include leader of the opposition.


In an apparent reference to al Qaeda and Taliban hunted in the western tribal borders, he said, "Who are these people? they are foreigners. These people are those who fought against the soviets with the help of the West."

"These anti-national elements cannot be allowed to operate here. They have a different agenda. It is not that of Pakistan. Pakistan has its own problems. We don`t want to be part of their agenda," he said days before British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and US Secretary of State Colin Powell undertake visits to India and Pakistan. "They have come from various countries. If they surrender we will send them back to their countries," Musharraf said.
Claiming that he was not power hungry, the military ruler said, "I am handing it over to the NSC. I am not leaving it to the personal whims and wishes of one person."
He expressed confidence that there would be no martial law in the country as the institution of the NSC would function effectively.
Bureau Report