June 21, 2015
News
Message on Benazir’s birth anniversary: ‘Militants will not be allowed to dictate agenda through force’
* Former president Zardari says fight against militancy is collective struggle of whole nation
INP
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has called upon the people to reiterate the resolve once again that “we will not let the militants dictate their political agenda through force.
Pakistan will have to be a moderate and pluralistic country where the ultimate choice is made by ballot and not bullet, he said.
In a message on the occasion of 62nd birth anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto on Saturday, the former president extended heartfelt felicitations to the workers of PPP and to all the democracy-loving people of Pakistan. He especially felicitated the women and the marginalised sections of the society for whom Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had devoted her life.
He said this anniversary of “our great leader is being commemorated at a time when the nation has achieved major successes against militancy thanks due to the unity of political forces and state agencies, an achievement that had eluded us for long”. The party recalls with pride that Shaheed Bhuttoo led from the front in the fight against militancy and even laid down her life in this epic struggle, he said.
Zardari said fight against militancy is a collective struggle of the whole nation. It can be fought successfully only through collective efforts with each segment of the society performing its assigned duties. As for the PPP, he said the party is committed to exterminating the militant ideology that is posing existential threat to the country.
“This birth anniversary of our leader is also an occasion to reiterate our pledge to defeat the militant mindset and uphold the ideals of democracy, pluralism and rule of law for which Benazir stood for and struggled throughout her life,” he added. He pledged to tread in her footsteps to further strengthen democracy, safeguard the rights of the marginalised sections and “uphold and defend the values for which our founding fathers created this country”.
The PPP co-chairperson said, “Let us also remember on this day all those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy, rights of the people and defending our motherland against internal and external threats.” He said the nation salutes all those in the defence forces, the police, the civil law enforcing agencies and the people who have sacrificed their lives or suffered otherwise in the fight against militancy. The nation cannot forget them and will not allow their sacrifices go in vain, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk