Pakistan’s future lies in continuation of democracy

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf

on Tuesday said that democracy was the most effective system and that the future of Pakistan depended on it, DawnNews reported. Addressing the August 14 flag hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre Islamabad, Prime Minister Ashraf said that the Pakistan movement was a perfect example of a democratic and constitutional struggle for independence. He said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed their lives for their democratic ideas. The prime minister said that the democratically-elected government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had achieved several financial and political targets. Prime Minister Ashraf said that “although, I come from a humble background and was an ordinary worker of the PPP, my party chose me for the top most public office of the country…I am proud of it and thankful to the party.” He moreover said that the problem in Balochistan was that the province’s issues had not been addressed properly by the previous governments. “Balochistan domicile holders can now work in the federal government…we have taken steps to negotiate with the Baloch leadership and we hope that all parties in the province would take part in the next elections,” the premier said. “Baloch people are patriotic people…but the government would sternly deal with those who with the help of foreign agencies are involved in acts of terrorism,” the prime minister reiterated. He said that devolution of powers to the provinces through the passage of the 18th Amendment was a significant step taken by the government. Prime Minister Ashraf said that for the first time in the country’s history and under the PPP-led coalition government, elected representatives had been included in the formulation of the country’s foreign policy. He said that the government wanted the resolutions to the issues of Afghanistan and Kashmir in accordance with the United Nations’ resolutions. Speaking on minority rights in the country, the prime minister said that the government had taken various steps to socially and financially facilitate religious minorities. The prime minister concluded his speech by congratulating the people on the country’s 66th Independence Day.