President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said Pakistan Peoples Party would continue to render sacrifices for the rights of the masses and for strengthening the state institutions through democratic measures.
Addressing a large gathering here after inaugurating a modern transplant centre at Gumbut Medical Institute and the 6th draw of the Waseela-e-Haq programme under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), he said the 18th Amendment will ensure that no dictator can trample the Constitution ever again.
"We will continue to fight for our rights and those of the masses, without any fear of sacrifice", he added.
The President said some people might have desired that the government should have adopted constitutional amendments much earlier, but there was a time for everything and now it was being done as the necessary consensus was there.
President Zardari said the party would continue to pursue the policy of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for the uplift of the people who rendered sacrifices, lost lives, families and everything for the cause of the party. He said it was this philosophy that has continued to get overwhelming support of the masses from all over the country.
The President said a country gains strength only when the people and the provinces are given their due rights. "We will continue to serve Pakistan and its people even at the cost of our lives", he said and added, "We raised the slogan of Pakistan Khapay, even at a time when there was a funeral at our home".
The President mentioned the BISP programme that was aimed basically at empowering the women and said the party workers and leaders were, from day one, struggling for their due rights. "We believe in enabling the people learn how to fish, instead of feeding them", the President said and pointed that it was the focal point of party's manifesto.
He referred to Hazrat Khadija (RA), who was a successful businesswoman, and said his party would continue to support the Pakistani women to stand on their own feet.
The President distributed certificates among the women who were selected in the 5th draw. He also handed over keys of auto rickshaws to them and hoped that it would not only increase their financial position, but also open up a brighter future.
BISP Chairman Farzana Raja paid rich tribute to President Asif Ali Zardari who transferred all his powers to the prime minister and restored the 1973 Constitution to its original form with a view to strengthening the institutions and the democracy. She said all those who had unleashed criticism against the President without any justification, had to eat a humble pie.
She said the vision and thought of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto would continue to strengthen the country and take it forward on the path of progress and development. She said families selected through a draw from the 2.7 million families under the BISP are provided loans of Rs 300,000 to help them start their own small business, increase their income and earn a respectable income.
Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, party leaders and workers attended the event.