Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the nation to follow the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and forge unity in their ranks to overcome the challenges facing Pakistan.
"My message to the people of Pakistan is that we must forge unity in our ranks. If we imbibe the Quaid's message of unity, faith and disciple, there is no challenge too insurmountable to be overcome and no one would dare cast an evil eye on the country's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the prime minister said in his message on the occasion of 135th birthday of the Father of Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
"On this auspicious day, we should pledge and resolve to work whole-heartedly and dedicatedly to build a strong and prosperous Pakistan. Patriotism, dedicated work and selfless service for the great glory of Pakistan could be the most befitting tribute to the memory of Quaid-e-Azam," he added.
Gilani said Quaid's exemplary courage, statesmanship, lofty vision and dedication to the cause of Muslims of South Asia made it possible for us to be citizens of a free, independent and sovereign Islamic country.
"I would like to congratulate the entire nation including the expatriate Pakistanis on this auspicious day", he added. The prime minister said, "history fails to offer any other parallel to what the Quaid-e-Azam achieved."
"Renowned historian Stanley Walport rightly paid a rich tribute to the leadership of the Quaid. He said, "Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three."
He said nature endowed the Quaid-e-Azam with exceptional qualities of leadership, integrity, determination and an indomitable will, adding, "he defied the mighty hostile forces that had joined hands to deprive the Muslims of the sub-continent of their political rights and liberties."
"No obstacle was too great to overcome, no odd was too formidable to surmount. It was due to his ceaseless efforts that the Muslims of Sub-continent were crowned with success and became sovereign nation on the world map," he added.
The prime minister said the Quaid-e-Azam was a great and towering leader of South Asia. "He was a staunch believer in the values of honesty, truthfulness and sublime human values. His actions and sayings only reflected his character and principles. He not only founded a democratic Islamic state, but also spelled out guiding principles to run it successfully," Gilani added.
He said the great Quaid was a true democrat and upholder of equality and social justice. "At a speech he delivered at Kingsway Hall London on December 14, 1946, he said, "Democracy is in the blood of the Muslamans who look upon complete equality of man."
Addressing All-India Muslim League session, Lucknow in 1916, Quaid-e-Azam said, "There are no people in the world who are more democratic even in their religion than the Musalmans."
The prime minister said the Quaid-e-Azam thought that representative governments and institutions are essential part of the democratic system. He once said, "A good government is the one which is answerable to the representatives of people."
"The Quaid-e-Azam was a great advocate of social and economic justice. He wanted to construct a society where the rich could not exploit the poor. According to him," Pakistan has come into being as a result of sacrifices of the poor and only the poor have a right to form a government."
The prime minister said, "the government of Pakistan People's Party is the government of the people, which is representative of their aspirations. In order to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, the government has undertaken multifaceted welfare and developmental projects."
"BISP is a flagship social development programme of the government, which is geared towards helping the poorest of the poor through different ways. The empowerment of Parliament and the strengthening of institutions undertaken by the present government are in line with the vision of the Founding Father," he added.
The prime minister reiterated the message of the Quaid-e-Azam in view of present-day global and regional situation and mentioned that in a broadcast to the US in February 1948, the great Quaid said, "Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards all the nations of the world. We do not cherish aggressive designs against any country or nation". We believe in the principle of honesty and fair play in national and international dealings and are prepared to make our utmost contribution to the promotion of peace and prosperity among the nations of the world. Pakistan will never be found lacking in extending its material and moral support to the oppressed and suppressed peoples of the world and in upholding the principles of the United Nation's Charter."
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