KARACHI, July 5 (APP): President Pervez Musharraf on Friday night said he will not hesitate for a minute to resign if it can help resolve the challenges facing the country like economic crisis, terrorism and extremism threat, and political turmoil. “Believe me, I would have resigned four months back, had it been to the benefit of the country and the nation ,” he said while addressing businessmen at an annual dinner hosted by the Business Community of Pakistan forum at a hotel here. He said that his resignation is not a solution to the national issues, rather it would create a good leadership problem that the country cannot afford. “People of Pakistan want my stay and the country needs me,” President Pervez Musharraf asserted. He rebutted the rumour mongers who he said were bringing political and economic instability in the country by spreading false news about his quitting the Presidency and flying to some foreign country to seek political asylum. “There were rumours that I was to resign within next 48 hours. I have been surrounded by armed forces at the Army House. A plane is ready at Chaklala Airbase to take me abroad. But no such thing happened so far,” the President said adding that he was not afraid of any one or any thing but Allah Almighty. He said he was not going anywhere as he had not stolen any thing, nor had he looted the national exchequer. He would die in the country. President Pervez Musharraf said he had no residence abroad and had even no money for the same. The army is standing with him as he had served and commanded this prestigious force for forty years with all professional excellence, honesty and sincerity, he said. “It will be the last day of my life if the army shows distrust on me and surrounds me,” he said. He strongly criticised those civilians and retired personnel of the armed forces who are speaking against him only to get cheap popularity. They were doing a dis-service to the country by maligning the Presidency, which is the symbol of the nation’s unity and solidarity, he said. “They are some mis-guided friends from the army and the civil society speaking non-sense,” he remarked adding that he could speak a lot for each of them but he would not do so in the interest and for the sake of dignity of the country. The President stressed on promotion of national harmony and re-conciliation by shunning all differences and rising beyond personal likes or dislikes of the past. The reconciliation is the name of the game. If we would get involved in personal vendetta, the country would be pushed into more economic crisis and terrorism/extremism any other threats/problems, he said. Pervez Musharraf said the country was rich in resources including very efficient and hardworking manpower, and it needs a good leadership. He said he would be the happiest person if coalition Government provides good governance and perform according to the people’s satisfaction/expectations. He said we got Pakistan after a long struggle and rendering of many sacrifices by our ancestors. Thanks to them, he said, who saved the new generations of Muslims of the sub-continent from remaining under the control and exploitation of Hindus. President Musharraf emphasised for collective and sincere efforts for solidarity and prosperity of the country. The President advised the political parties to avoid agitational politics and focus on real issues like economic and political instability, threat of terrorism and extremism, national disharmony, which were eating away the country like termite. He defended the action of his last Government in Balochistan saying that unfortunately there was increasing tendency of separatism. No Government should tolerate such tendencies. Federal and Provincial Governments and the forces showing total harmony should unite their actions to save the country from this cancer of separatism and disharmony. Political stability is must for the economic stability and prosperity in the country, he said. The President said we would have to stop the flight of capital and attract foreign investors once again. Interest rate and the inflation issues would be dealt with professionally and that a balance would be kept. Twelve billion dollars foreign investment was expected this year but went down drastically, he noted. Clarifying why the last interim Government did not increase petroleum prices in proportion to price hike in the international oil market instead of passing on the impact to the new elected Government, President Musharraf said we thought the price can rise up to $ 72 dollar per barrel from Rs 63 and that the elections would be held in the second week of December 2007. That our economy was strong enough to absorb the POL prices hike. We did not know that the price would cross $ 100 per barrel and that the elections would be postponed due to ‘Shahadat’ of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said. He highlighted the achievements of the last elected Government like high GDP growth and significant increase in revenue. He said high income can be achieved through high production and remittances, privatisation, international bonds and portfolio of shares. We can sell our pieces of papers in the international market only when there is stability in the country. He urged the business community to play their historic role in bringing the country out of the economic crisis like they played after the independence when it was feared that the country’s system would collapse due to shortage of resources.