Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the life of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is a classic story of courage and commitment towards people's welfare, and steel-like determination to accomplish the goals she set before herself.
In a message on the occasion of the third martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the PM said December 27 is a day of immense grief and national tragedy when Pakistan in particular, and the world in general lost a leader of high stature in the person of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Even in her martyrdom, she continues to be a binding force among the federating units of Pakistan, given the fact that her loss is being mourned across the country over and above political divide, he added.
The history of the third world fails to offer any other example whereby a leader rose to such a prominence and carved a role due to the qualities of the head and heart, he said adding Shaheed Benazir made her mark in the world politics, thanks to her political wisdom and leadership qualities.
Gilani said Benazir was an embodiment of courage and endurance who did not allow her personal tragedies to stand in the way of her larger commitment towards her people. He reminded that she proved through personal example that she was a leader par excellence and there was no adversity, big or small that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto did not face starting from martyrdom of her father, her brothers, threats to her life to the rigours of exile and imprisonment.
After every tragedy, she bounced back with renewed commitment, more vigour and determination to serve her people, he said and recalled that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto used to say: "turn your personal pain into your strength. You can conquer world with this strength."
There is a very select and rare breed of people who become immortal after their deaths. No doubt Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto belongs to this category, he said adding she is a heartthrob of millions of people and continues to rule their hearts and minds even in her martyrdom. Her entire life is a unique role model not only for the people of Pakistan but also of the world.
The PM observed that Benazir was an incarnation of steadfastness, perseverance and determination. Her name would be chronicled in golden words in the annals of history. She writes in her book "Daughter of the East", "I did not select this life for myself. Rather this life has selected me for itself. "
"History would remember Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for four things: firstly, the unwavering determination to reach out to her people; secondly, the courage to take on huge and seemingly insurmountable challenges, thirdly, the ability to forgive even her enemies and lastly her undaunted espousal of cause of women emancipation and empowerment," Gilani noted.
Gilani further said, "she may not be with us today but her ideals and vision continue to enlighten our path. The principles and values she fought and died for remain as relevant today as they were in the past. Those values form the mainstream narrative in our fight against multiple challenges that we face today."
Guided by this vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said the democratic government has undertaken critical reforms in different walks of national life. "In a short span of two and half years, we have travelled a distance of miles." Elaborating, he said the focus of reforms introduced by the PPP government remains on reorienting the direction of the state policy in favour of the common man - the man in the street who is the real stakeholder in the system.
"Our historic successes such as Aagz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan initiative, adoption of seventh NFC Award, passage of 18th Constitutional Amendment, Gilgit-Baltistan Self-Governance & Empowerment Act, Benazir Income Support Programme, different initiatives for empowerment of women and successful fight against terrorism and extremism to name only a few, are dedicated to the memory and vision of the martyred leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto," he continued.
The PM said, "In our struggle to accomplish these Herculean tasks, my government and I myself have been guided by the politics of reconciliation and harmony originally espoused by our Shaheed Leader." It is not yet the time to rest on our laurels. We can not afford to be complacent, for we have the debt of huge tasks conferred on us by our Shaheeds. It is our national duty to strengthen the federation of Pakistan."
"As we march on, there may be more strenuous challenges ahead but our resolve to take on them must be greater," he said adding Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto once said "I dream of a Pakistan where we can commit our social resources to the development of human life and not to its destruction," he concluded.
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