Islamabad: In his first comment on the occupation of a public library here by madrassa girls, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said they were deliberately daring the Government to take action but no crackdown has been ordered as it could lead to bloodshed.

He said he has not initiated action against them not because of fear but because the madrassa housed about 3,000 women and the mosque next to it housed several thousand men and any crackdown would have caused immense loss of life.

Musharraf was speaking about the militant activities carried out by students of a girls' madrassa during his hour-long address to a religious conference here, organised to celebrate 'Eid Milad-un-Nabi', the birthday of Prophet Mohammad. The girls have been occupying the library since January 21.

Referring to their occupation of public library to protest the move to demolish unauthorised mosques, capture of two policemen against arrest of their teachers as well as capture of three women alleging that they ran brothels, he said the girls were deliberately daring the government to take action.

Appealing to the people present to prevail on the girl students not to indulge in such acts, he said young men and women joined jehadi groups and brought bad name to Islam by trying to impose their philosophy on others.

"Musharraf said under Islam no one has the right to declare jehad except the Government, which was the central authority. Jehad is just not about fighting and dying but it should be launched against illiteracy and poverty," he said.