‘Strengthening democracy’: President vows timely and transparent polls

Pays tribute to party workers on eve of PPP founding day, says ‘Bhuttoism’ will live on eternally.


Our Correspondent November 30, 2012

KARACHI:


On the eve of the 46th founding day of Pakistan Peoples Party, the party’s co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari asked democratic forces to gear up for the upcoming general elections, which he vowed would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner, and within the mandated time frame.


He urged the people to engage themselves in a continuous struggle to build a progressive and democratic Pakistan, where everyone lives with honour and dignity.

PPP’s celebrations come at a time when the democratically elected government is nearing the completion of a historic term “having waded through a sea of vicious campaigns to tarnish its image,” said the president, according to an official statement.

“It is an occasion of celebration and rejoicing, as well as of introspection,” he added. “Let us pledge once again today that we will continue to work for strengthening democratic institutions as envisioned by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for which she laid down her life.”

President Zardari said Bhuttoism is the name of an ideology that lives and will live on to empower the people, strengthen democracy and democratic institutions, and to serve the masses.

He added it would be useful to look up the government’s “scorecard” and brace for the challenges that lie ahead.



Zardari said the government’s achievements included restoration of the unanimous Constitution of 1973, opening the doors of political reforms in Fata, democratic amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulation, empowering parliament, strengthening democracy through political reconciliation, taking the militants head on and launching a massive poverty alleviation program – the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). “These are some of the great victories the people of Pakistan can be genuinely proud of.”

Paying a tribute to the party’s political workers, the president said courageous and devoted workers are the pillars of the political process and the nation. “They have never wavered in their quest for a modern, progressive and democratic Pakistan.”

He went on to say that “democracy has survived and flourished on the sweat, blood and tears of political workers. It is because of their sacrifices that dictatorship has not been able to take roots in Pakistan.”

The heroic struggle for safeguarding democracy and democratic institutions and empowering people must continue, said Zardari, before adding an assertive “it will.”

Separately, the president held a meeting with PPP’s Karachi division leaders.

During the meeting, he was given a briefing about preparations for the party’s founding day celebrations.

Participants of the meeting also informed him about political activities in Karachi.

Zardari inquired about development schemes in Lyari, and said he would soon hold a separate meeting on the issue.

PPP Karachi division president Abdul Qadir Patel, PPP General Secretary (Sindh) Taj Haider, senators Yousaf Baloch and Saeed Ghani were present at the meeting amongst other party leaders.

Sources said the issue of delimitation of constituencies also came under discussion, during which the president urged participants to comply with the Supreme Court’s orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2012.

COMMENTS (2)

replica rolex | 11 years ago | Reply You Have some interesting ideas! Maybe I should to ponder doing this by my self.
Yousaf | 11 years ago | Reply

President Asif Ali Zardari will pay an official three day visit to South Korea the next week from 3-5 December on the invitation of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

http://rtilive.pk/detail/7029

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