Message from Prime Minister of Pakistan

As we reach an important landmark in our brief democratic history let me join the people of Pakistan in celebrating and rejoicing the success we have collectively achieved. Today I will be presiding the one hundredth meeting of the Federal Cabinet.
This is a major stride forward since no democratically elected Government in the country since its creation has been able to score a century of Cabinet meetings. I join the members of my cabinet in bowing before Allah Almighty for granting us this honour and the opportunity to serve our people.
I take pride in the singular honour that the people of Pakistan have bestowed on me as I have now become the longest serving elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. This is a great achievement indeed for the people as it is unprecedented in the history of democracy in Pakistan.
Today, we have converged in the city of the Quaid who was a great visionary, to pay homage to him and tell the founder of this nation that we have tread the path chosen by him for Pakistan and in the course given numerous sacrifices.
It does not require great wisdom to understand that Pakistan was envisioned by its founder purely as a democracy. As the sun of foreign domination set on the Sub-Continent, Quaid-e-Azam wanted the people to be masters of their destiny. Articulating his vision for a democratic Pakistan, the Quaid said while addressing the nation over Radio Pakistan on 28th March, 1948 "With the removal of foreign domination, the people are now the final arbiters of their destiny. They have perfect liberty to have by constitutional means any government that they may choose".
Let us remind ourselves today that our leaders Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto have rendered supreme sacrifice for the cause of democracy. The fruits of democracy that we relish today are undoubtedly a result of the courageous struggle of these two leaders.
No sooner had I taken office; we set about the task of rebuilding institutions. We began by restoring dignity to the judiciary as I announced the immediate release of the honourable judges from months of incarceration.
We ensured that the shackles on the media, which is an important pillar of the state, were done away with and the media played a vibrant role in debating national issues and guiding policy as is the case in a living democracy of modern times.
We made concerted efforts to restore dignity and return authority to the parliament as the supreme law making forum; a role denied to it in the past. This entailed that all key issues be discussed on the floor of the house and extensively debated before reaching a decision. I made it a point that the Prime Minister attends each session of the parliament and is answerable to the house. I have been participating in question hour and responding personally to questions posed by the honourable members of parliament.
We strengthened the parliament as the supreme decision making body and amendments made in the constitution to clip its wings were done away with. In fact for the first time in our history, a President himself returned his powers to the parliament.
In conduct of cabinet business, consultation and debate have remained the cornerstone of my policy. All issues are discussed and deliberated in detail in the Federal Cabinet before a final decision is reached.
We broke away from the politics of victimisation and political vendetta of the past. Today there are no politically motivated cases, no political prisoners or prisoners of conscience and above all there is a healthy and harmonious relationship amongst the political forces governing both at the federal and provincial levels. This is indeed a reflection of the maturity of the political leadership.
History has taught us that denial of the rights of people in the federating units leads to strengthening of anti-Pakistan forces and emergence of nationalistic and ethnic groups.
Empowering the federating units was the vision of Quaid-e-Azam, Quaid-e-Awam and Quaid-e-Jamhooriat which my Government takes pride in translating into reality. The NFC award and the 18th and 19th amendments to the constitution which restored the 1973 constitution in its true spirit, giving political rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and FATA are but a few more examples of sweeping political reform that have not only strengthened the credentials of Pakistan as a democratic polity but also restored the faith of our people in democracy.
In line with the vision of the Quaid, we have taken major strides forward in bringing the backward areas at par with the developed ones. The Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package was a landmark as for the first time a comprehensive development initiative with the largest resource base was introduced for the people of the province. Naming of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a demand unfulfilled since the country's independence is yet another example of the blessings of democracy and fruits of a spirit of political reconciliation.
We need to promote debate which is the essence of a democratic dispensation. We need to instill pluralistic ideas and acceptance of diverse opinions on issues. This can only be attained if we all practice and promote democratic and egalitarian values through our conduct and the written and spoken word.
Let us all be answerable and subservient to the people who are the final arbiters. Let the people decide who will represent them.
At the Mausoleum of the father of the nation, where all cabinet colleagues will gather today, we would like to make a pledge to him that we will defend democracy to the last drop of our blood and that we will make every sacrifice to safeguard the sovereignty, integrity and honour of our nation.
I end with Quaid's words;
"There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan".
Long Live Democracy! Long Live Pakistan!