Islamabad, Sept 28: Claiming that the world community appreciated his "policy of moderation" during his tour of US and Canada, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf sought to quell controversy over his reported remarks calling the parliamentarians an immature lot. Talking to media on his arrival at Lahore airport early today, Musharraf claimed the world community highly appreciated "policies of moderation" being pursued by Pakistan.
During his tour to UN to address the General Assembly, said Musharraf, members of the international community heard and acknowledged Pakistan's viewpoint. He also claimed to have tried to motivate members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to collectively deliberate over the current world situation to which they responded positively.
Musharraf claimed the Canadian leaders lauded his government's policies and evinced keen interest in investment in Pakistan, adding there was huge potential of bilateral trade in the sector of information technology and textiles. The Canadian Minister for Industries would soon be visiting Pakistan to discuss the setting up of joint ventures in various sectors, he added.
Musharraf denied that he ever called the Pakistan parliamentarians as immature lot.
Referring to the objections raised by the politicians on his reported remarks, Musharraf said he only discussed the maturing of the "system" and never called the parliamentarians immature.
"I was astonished to see the news item attributed to me, calling the present assemblies immature," he said. Bureau Report