Rare acknowledgement: Marriyum praises PPP ‘for strengthening democracy’

Says people's mandate must be respected

ISLAMABAD: In a rare acknowledgement, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Friday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had rendered sacrifices for democracy.

The unprecedented praise by the minister suggests that the government wants to win over the PPP in an attempt to get its proposed amendments to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution passed from parliament.

This is despite the fact that the PPP, which is currently the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, celebrated the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.



Talking to reporters after attending a calligraphy exhibition, the state minister hoped that the PPP would work for strengthening democracy given its sacrifices for the political system.

“There should be rule of the law and supremacy of the Constitution in Pakistan and that people's mandate must be respected,” she said, adding that the Quaid-e-Azam wanted to see Pakistan emerge as a democratic country.

Earlier, speaking at the International Calligraphy exhibition, the minister said Islamic calligraphy is not just an art but a love for the religion.

“Pakistan needs to portray its positive image through such exhibitions,” she said, adding, “This exhibition is part of the ongoing celebrations of 70 years of our independence."

Marriyum said Pakistani artists should also travel arrange their exhibitions aboard.



“There should be an institute that works for the promotion of art of calligraphy,” she said, adding, “Students of colleges and schools should be brought to such events."

On the occasion, the minister announced that a film festival would be held in Pakistan next month. “We want every Pakistani to play his part in this effort,” she maintained.

“We wanted to show to the world that Pakistan is the name of love and peace,” she said, calling upon the media to highlight the country’s positive image.