Fourth anniversary: President pledges not to let sacrifices of October 18 victims go in vain

Says the militant mindset needs to be defeated, preserve Pakistan's way of life and values system.

ISLAMABAD: Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated his pledge to continue the fight against the militant mindset that had challenged the Pakistani way of life, pledging “their sacrifices will not be allowed to go in vain,” as he prepared to observe the fourth anniversary of the October 18 attack on the welcome convoy of Benazir Bhutto.

“On this day four years ago nearly two hundred fans of democracy and believers in moderation embraced martyrdom when the convoy welcoming the return to the country of the icon of democracy and reconciliation Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan after years of exile was attacked by extremists, militants and enemies of democracy,” he said.

Presenting a tribute to those who gave their lives on that fated evening, the President said “on this day, while we salute all those who laid down their lives in the cause of democracy and against militancy and their bereaved family members, we also reiterate our pledge to continue the fight against the militant mindset that has challenged our way of life and value system,” Zardari said in a message.

The President said that the cowardly attacks of October 18 itself and indeed events not only preceding and following it have demonstrated that the battle against militancy is the battle for the survival of a democratic, progressive, moderate and modern Pakistan where the fate of the people will be decided though the ballot rather than the bullet.

“The battle lines have been clearly drawn and we will not rest till the militant mindset has been finally defeated,” he said.

President Zardari said that on this day four years ago Benazir Bhutto had triumphantly returned to the country to what she herself had said, “to bring change to my country by empowering its people and building political institutions”.

Following in her footsteps, Zardari said, the PPP wishes to reiterate its pledge “to bring change, empower the downtrodden and rebuild the institutions,” he added.

The President also paid tributes to the armed forces, the civil law enforcing agencies and the people who have made untold sacrifices in the fight against militancy and reiterated that the government will root out militancy and extremism no matter what the price.

The PPP Co chairman said that the Party had taken measures to rehabilitate the families of those who had laid down their lives to protect Benazir Bhutto as it had a duty towards the heroes of democracy and also to do much more.