Parliamentarians from both side of National Assembly on Thursday paid rich tribute to the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and vowed to work collectively to meet the challenges being faced by the Country. Today (Thursday), before staring on-going regular session of the National Assembly, national anthem was played in the Lower House as part of its tradition of celebrating Independence Day.
All the members rose from their seats in veneration to the national anthem. Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza has set the tradition of celebrating Independence Day during its regular sessions. While delivering a speech in the House, Madam Speaker said that the nation, Inshahallah, would be celebrating the 65th Independence Day of our beloved motherland after three days from now. "This year too, we are adhering to this practice," she said.
She said, "You are all aware that the present National Assembly has set this tradition of celebrating Independence Day during regular sessions. This year too, we are adhering to the past practice. And for this reason, today's historic date, August 11, has been selected so that we -- the elected parliamentarians -- could jointly pay homage to the truly democratic philosophy of our Great Leader the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which was laid by him on August 11, 1947 before the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
She said that the historic sitting of August 11, 1947 is important on many counts it is in fact, a landmark in our nation's parliamentary history. The first-ever session of Pakistan's Constituent Assembly was held in Karachi from August 10 to August 14, 1947.
She said that the House elected the Qusid-e-Azam as its first permanent President. The Quaid then presented his vision of a future Pakistan, she said. Our Country's first Prime Minister Quaid-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan placed the design of our National Flag for the approval of the Assembly, which was unanimously granted.
"This agenda clearly reflects that critical questions of the nation's identity, the code of conduct for its representatives and the importance of the valiant tribesmen for this new-born country -- were all taken up by the House on one single day -- August 11, 1947. I, therefore, genuinely believe that although Pakistan was formally created on August 14 but the future guiding philosophy of this nascent state was determined on August 11. And this is best reflected in the maiden speech of the Quaid to the Assembly," she said.
The Speaker said that it was not merely a speech. It was the reflection of the basic ideology of Pakistan -- equality, brotherhood, and social justice. It was the setting of the direction of the nation's future -- democracy, liberty, and human rights. And it was a charter of responsibilities for all organs of the State, the legislature, executive and the judiciary -- responsibility, accountability.
Today, as our beloved country faces numerous challenges and we all seek national unity, integration, restraint and mutual understanding amongst our ranks, I would like to remind you what the Quaid had advised, she said. She said that let us seek inspiration and guidance from his wisdom and let us read the true message, embedded in his sayings.
While speaking in the House, Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that the no Pakistani could forget services of founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam. He said that unfortunately, the past rulers could not run the country in accordance with the ideas of our great leader.
Mehtab said that the past dictators tried their best to weaken the country and today the nation was paying the price for it. He said that a host of problems like terrorism, target killings and poor law and order situation confronting the country.
He said, Pakistani have potential not only to cope with the financial and social problems but could also provide leadership to the whole Muslim Ummah. MQM lawmaker, Dr Abdul Qadir Patil congratulated the people on the forthcoming Independence Day and said it was indebted owing to scarifies rendered by our great leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Asia Nasir of JUI-F lauded the principles set by founder of the nation for the welfare of minorities in the country and stressed the need to join hands for national unity, solidarity and integrity. She also called upon the parliamentarians to play their due role in this regard. ANP lawmakers, Pervez Khan Advocate and Maulvi Asmitullah also felicitated the nation on the forthcoming Independence Day and pledged to work for the welfare of the people.