The central thought of the Father of Nation Mohammed Ali Jinnah in creating Pakistan was to make a democratic and progressive state and not a theocratic one in which thoughts and actions of individuals are controlled by a few in the name of ideology. This was stated by former President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday in a message on the eve of the 140th birth anniversary of father of nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah on December 25.
"On the eve of Quaid's anniversary let us pledge to remain focused on the central principles for which the country was created by its founding fathers," he said. "Constitutionalism, rule of law and equality of all citizens and equal opportunities to all citizens without any prejudice of religion, cast and creed are the guiding principles behind the creation of Pakistan," he said.
"There is a need for introspection in the direction the state has taken; whether ideology and religion are being misused to negate the pristine principles of the state and to stifle dissent and free expression," he said. "The nation will slip into the quagmire of instability if the founding principles were disregarded," he warned.