Message from President of Pakistan

On attaining an important distinction of holding the one hundredth meeting of the Federal Cabinet and becoming the longest serving popularly elected Government, I congratulate the entire Federal Cabinet, the Prime Minister and most importantly the people of Pakistan who are the sole source of strength of the current democratic dispensation.
I would also like to congratulate all institutions of the state who played their role in ensuring the sustainability of democracy in the country - a cherished goal indeed. As we observe the Birth Anniversary of the father of the nation, there could not have been a better tribute to the man who stood for democracy, equality and believed in power of the people. Nurturing and strengthening democracy is indeed a befitting homage to a great leader who won Pakistan through a democratic struggle. It is my firm belief that since democracy created Pakistan, democracy alone will salvage and safeguard it.
Pakistan was envisioned by its founder as a democratic and egalitarian society with equal rights for all its citizens. Quaid was for equal rights and opportunities for women. He was of the view that no progress can be made unless women worked shoulder to shoulder with men. Our Quaid was a strong advocate of protection of the rights of the minorities. He set examples to show how as a nation we were to deal with minorities.
In Quaid's Pakistan domination of one group over the other based on ethnicity, class, caste or creed, is unacceptable; for this was the vision of the father of the nation.
It is indeed befitting that the 100th cabinet meeting of the longest serving democratically elected Government is being held in the Quaid's city, Karachi, coinciding with his birth anniversary. I appreciate the Prime Minister and the Federal Cabinet for this gesture of patriotism and love for the Quaid. Today a culture of political maturity is taking firm roots in Pakistan. We have consigned political animosities to the past and working with a spirit of reconciliation with all political fames. Political forces at the national and provincial levels are working in accordance with their mandate and in a spirit of harmony.
On this occasion, let us not forget the icons of democracy who devoted their lives to fighting for democracy and did not hesitate to lay down their lives for the cause they upheld so passionately. The father of the nation after having emancipated us from a dictatorship, envisioned only and only democracy for us declaring the people as the sole arbiters of who should rule them.
The Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto set a glorious example by struggling for democracy and laying down his life for the cause. He fought for the rights of the masses with courage and determination and proved that in the end, it is the people who prevail. Shaheed Zulfiqar described dictatorship as 'darkness in high noon'. He termed it as 'the worst form of lawlessness which takes us back to the law of the jungle, where only the strongest survive'.
Following in his footsteps, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave her life fighting for restoration of democracy in the country.
We remain united as a nation in the face of challenges and adversities. Only through unity, faith and discipline shall we emerge on the global stage as a great nation; a nation so proudly referred to by the Quaid-e-Azam and Quaid-e-Awam as one of the most gifted, the most hard working and resilient.
We will continue to forge ahead with the power of the people and make Pakistan a stable democracy, translating the vision of Quaid-e-Azam in to reality.
Long Live Democracy! Long Live Pakistan!