ISLAMABAD, JAN 25, SPA -- President Pervez says Pakistan is not back-tracking from its commitment to fight terrorism and its success or failure in this global war will have impact in the West. We are fighting terrorism and extremism for Pakistan and the West must know the success or failure in Pakistan will have an impact in the streets of Europe, he said in an interview with CNN television. The President said that it was a misperception that Pakistan was waging fight against terrorism and extremism for the United States or the West. I am not fighting for any one. I am fighting for Pakistan. Why would I backtrack if it is in the interest of Pakistan? Again the misperception is as if I am doing something for United States or the West. He stressed that this fight must be fought by the world together. We have to be together to fight terrorism and extremism. Don t create such misperceptions that we are backtracking, Musharraf added. The President said Pakistan was following a multi-pronged strategy; military, political and socio economic, to curb terrorism and extremism. Musharraf said he has introduced the essence of democracy by empowering the people of Pakistan through the local government system. He said the government has empowered the women of Pakistan by giving them reserved seats along with the option of contesting on general seats. Similarly, he added, the minorities have been given the right of joint electorate as well as reserved seats. This is the essence of democracy. Replying a question about curbs on media and sacking of judges, he said four or five personalities were inciting people of Pakistan to agitation. We cannot have this. He said 75 percent of talk shows on television channels were against him, the government and whatever was happening in Pakistan. I closed them down, yes indeed, for a few days because some of them were inciting agitation. They were not showing responsibility towards terrorism and extremism, he said. About Gallup polls in Pakistan, which were against him, the President said, he did not give credence to them. You can have Gallup polls in Pakistan which will say 90 percent on one side and you can have Gallup poll which is 90 percent on the other side. I don t give much credence to Gallup polls in Pakistan at all. He said Pakistan and its people were capable enough to run the affairs of the government and believe in democracy and constitution. We are not such cruelest people who don t know how to run the country. We have our own brains, unfortunately there is a degree of, may I say, intellectual arrogance that I see in the west who think that these developing countries are some kind of people who don t know how to govern. He assured that the general elections will be free and fair.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/520900