For the people: Nawaz, Zardari mark UN Democracy Day

Deliver inspirational messages lauding democratic process within the country

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the eve of United Nations International Democracy Day declared that Pakistan’s future lies in continuation of democracy.  In his message he added, “In democracy, lies our ideology, survival and identity”. 

PM Nawaz further stated that democracy was getting a strong foothold in Pakistan and had resulted in remarkable improvement at social and economic levels, adding that the general election was declared fair and independent by the judiciary—an important milestone towards a strong democracy.

The premier added that for the first time in country’s history, the local governments would be in place side by side with the federal and provincial governments and with functional local governments, the common man would enjoy the right of taking his own decisions in a democratic way.

He concluded his message by saying that democracy ensured connectivity with the global world and that Pakistan would continue to uphold democratic norms and express solidarity with democracy.

PPP co-chairman’s message

Former President Asif Ali Zardari, also delivered a message in honour of UN International  Democracy Day saying that democracy demands all institutions respect the limits imposed on them by the Constitution.

The PPP co-chairman said that democracy was much more than merely holding elections periodically to distribute political power among parties and individuals according to their electoral strength.

Rule of law, restraining oneself within the constitutional limits, transparent and across the board accountability and tolerance to dissent are also critical elements of democracy, he said.

The former President also cautioned against threats to democracy from the militant mindset seeking to impose their extremist agenda through force.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2015.