President, PM resolve to protect Pakistan

Say they are fully aware of the conspiracies and tactics of the enemies

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have declared the government’s resolve to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty at all costs. In their separate messages on the golden-jubilee of the Defence Day on Sunday, they said: “We are fully aware of the conspiracies and tactics of the enemies.”

Mamnoon reiterated that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and seeks peace in the region. “However, its desire for peace must not be construed as weakness. The Pakistani nation and its armed forces can go to any extent to secure its borders and safeguard its sovereignty.”

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Nawaz said Pakistan is a responsible and peaceful nuclear power. He said: “We want to have good and peaceful relations with all our neighbours on the basis of sovereign equality.”

He said the display of national unity has made it clear to all the enemies of Pakistan that the nation stands united in the face of any threat to national security and integrity. “The Pakistani nation, the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies are determined to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the country.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Corps Commander Lahore Lt Gen Naveed Zaman offer fateha at the monument of Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider. PHOTO: ONLINE

The president and premier paid tributes to all those who had laid down their lives and lost their loved ones in the 1965 and 1971 wars and in the ongoing war on terrorism.

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They said the nation was committed to upgrading the professional capabilities of the country’s armed forces. “The government is conscious that professional readiness, determination and courage are guarantors of an independent nation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th,  2015.