Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated his commitment to the ideals of the party's founding principles for constitutionalism, rule of law, democracy and equality.
He pledged his unwavering commitment to the 52 year struggle and stated that he will continue to fight for the rights and will of the people until the emancipation of our people from the structural inequalities that plague us, says a press release issued here on Friday.
In his message on the eve of PPP's 52nd Foundation Day, being celebrated at Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu & Kashmir on Saturday, the PPP chairman pointed out that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had stood shoulder to shoulder with disenfranchised Haris, students, intellectuals, artists and the marginalized to empower them. He led by example. The loudest voice for democracy and the rights of the people, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the flag bearer for an equitable Pakistan, a cause that he fought for till his last breath.
PPP Chairman further stated that Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto managed to give Pakistan its first unanimous constitution, a document which even today is the foundation of our Federation. The Constitution that despite horrendous adventurism by dictatorial forces serves as the bedrock for our country and is the one democratic action no dictator has been able to undo.
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and the Pakistan Peoples Party, was the architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme, ensuring Pakistan and its sovereignty remains safe from external threats. The Peoples Party Government, under then Chairperson Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, also led the way in creating a backbone for our economy by building and setting up projects like Pakistan Steel Mills, Port Qasim, Heavy Mechanical Complex, and setting up industries across the country from Badin to Bajaur.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also paid rich tribute to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for picking up the flag and leading the charge for democracy and the rights of the people following the judicial murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The tin-pot dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq had thought he could snuff out the light of the will of the people by assassinating Pakistan's first democratic Prime Minister, but she fought valiantly against the forces of darkness and dictatorship and led the masses in the struggle for restoration of democracy. As Prime Minister, she fought for the rights of women, setting up the First Women's Bank, creating Women Police Stations, appointing the first female High Court Judges and beginning the renowned Lady Health Worker Programmes. Unions were legalised once more and she lived up to her name, becoming a beacon of light for students, labourers, peasants, farmers, traders, the disenfranchised and the marginalised. Under her leadership the PPP government also established largest number of educational institutions and hospitals in the country.
He said that the PPP believes in the Constitution and that every institution has to work within the defined ambit of constitution so that Pakistan can become the nation its founding fathers wished it to be. Both the Founder Chairman, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and its following Chairperson, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, had laid down their lives for democracy because they believed in the central tenet of the Pakistan Peoples Party "Either power must pass to the people or everything else will perish."
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Muzaffarabad was chosen as the venue to celebrate PPP's 52nd Foundation Day because one of the core founding issues was the Kashmir cause. Given the silence and inaction of the Federal Government in the face of the reign of terror unleashed in the valley by the Butcher of Gujarat Modi, Bilawal said, "The PPP continues to support the right of self-determination for Kashmiri people and reinforce its commitment into the third generation."-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019