ISLAMABAD: President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and former President of the country, Asif Ali Zardari while felicitating the nation on the 70th Independence Day has asked the countrymen to bear in mind the twin ideals of democracy and people’s welfare for which Pakistan came into being.
In felicitation message to national on Saturday, Asif Zardari said that amid celebrations today we should not be unmindful of the threats to the basic values on which our nationhood was founded.
He said, “Let us also on this day reiterate our total rejection of the attempts by some to turn Pakistan into a theocratic state. Let us proclaim loudly and clearly that Pakistan was never meant to be nor will be allowed to degenerate into a theocratic state.”
Welfare of the people must always be upper most in our minds, he said adding also “the security of the country will be enhanced, not undermined if the state focused on welfare of the people”.
Zardari further said that on this occasion we pay homage to the countless people who sacrificed their lives and endured hardships to make the dream of Pakistan come true. Our thoughts also go out to those whose lives have been devastated by militancy and extremism and in the recent senseless carnage in Quetta, he added.
He said, we remember with respect and admiration those who have suffered for the cause of democracy and rule of law. We cherish the memory of those who have laid down their lives in defending Pakistan from the scourge from extremism, militancy and religious bigotry. They all are our national heroes and heroines.
Let us on this occasion also reiterate our commitment to make Pakistan a truly modern, democratic, progressive and liberal country in the sense where freedom and opportunity are its defining characteristics, he said.
