The nation pays tribute to the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on his 132nd birth anniversary on Thursday.The day will be observed with seminars and special ceremonies at which services and contributions of the Quaid will be remembered.
Television and radio stations will air programmes highlighting the life, thoughts and achievement of the great leader. National flag will be hoisted on government and private buildings across the country. National leaders have issued statements and messages for the occasion.
President Asif Ali Zardari said in a message that it was important to recognise that social development guaranteed national security and stability.“We need to appreciate that democracy, development and social and human welfare are no less guarantors of peace and security,” the president said. He said militants and their “godfathers wanted to make Pakistan a security-driven state instead of a welfare-oriented state, because it suits their political agenda”. Stressing the need for defeating the elements preaching hatred, the president said that the Quaid’s birthday was an opportunity for the people to rededicate their lives to the father of the nation’s ideals.“The Quaid-i-Azam believed in the power of ballot and not bullet, and stood for constitutionalism, rule of law, respect for human rights, tolerance, pluralism and honouring the mandate of the people.” President Zardari urged the people to reclaim the Quaid’s Pakistan and unleash their creative powers through freedom and an end to terrorism and violence.“It is a day … to pause and ponder as to what steps we must take to restore the ideals and principles for which the Quaid created this homeland of ours.”President Zardari said it was unfortunate that the country suffered extremism, poverty, unemployment and inflation because of dictatorships and unrepresentative rulers.He said it was sad that militants and their supporters were threatening the Quaid’s ideals and depriving people of basic necessities of life.
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