137th birth anniversary of the Quaid: Former President Zardari calls for banishing militancy

http://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/

Former President Asif Ali Zardari has called upon the people to adhere to the principles of the Quaid namely democracy, constitutionalism and egalitarianism and that any political change must be brought through ballot and not the bullet.

He said this in his message of the eve of the 137th birth anniversary of father of nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah on Wednesday December 25.

Father of nation Mohammed Ali Jinnah had envisioned a democratic, progressive and egalitarian Pakistan where every citizen will have equal opportunities to advance without any prejudice of religion, cast and creed. The need to follow this philosophy was never as essential as it is now.

Adherence to the principles of democracy demands that we defeat the militant mindset that is seeking to impose a political agenda on the people through bullets instead of ballot, he said.

The greatest threat to Pakistan today is from the enemies within who seek to destroy the very fabric of the state by force to super impose their obscurantist agenda on the people in the name of religion. From Khyber to Karachi and from Gwadur to Gilgit Baltistan the militants have targeted our valiant members of armed forces, the police and law enforcing agencies. They have killed tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children and attacked our schools, hospitals and polio workers. They have not spared even our graveyards.

On this occasion I urge the people forge unity in their ranks to defeat these enemies of the country and to protect and preserve the values for Pakistan was created by its founding fathers under the leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. We reiterate today our resolve to carry on the struggle for strengthening the democratic polity and social justice and banish militancy, he said. The Pakistan Peoples Party reiterates its resolve to fight extremism to the finish and assures Pakistani nation that every worker of the Party will continue to fight for making Pakistan a truly democratic, just and pluralistic society free of the scourge of extremism and militancy.

Mr. Asif Ali Zardari also paid homage to those who laid down their lives and rendered huge sacrifices for the achievement of Pakistan as well for preserving democracy and constitutionalism and in fighting the militancy.