Strong democracy Pakistan’s future, says Mamnoon

Addresses flag-hoisting ceremony in connection with Independence Day; stresses a society free of religious, ethnic and racial differences; urges security institutions to
eliminate terrorism with renewed resolve

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Sunday said Pakistan’s future lied in a strong democracy that would ensure progress, prosperity and development of the country.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the 70th Independence Day at the Jinnah Convention Centre, the president urged the nation to work selflessly with the zeal similar to that of the independence struggle to confront the challenges ahead.

“Equality, fraternity, provision of basic rights, a society free of religious, ethnic and racial differences and independent foreign policy are the key principles for achieving prominence among the comity of nations,” the president noted.

Mamnoon said the plot of the enemy needed to be understood and the mutual differences should not be provoked. “National unity, democracy and strong defence will lead to progress and stability in the country.”

He said a national agenda would have to be pursued for improving law and order situation and maintaining economic stability.He recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah believed that democracy was part of a Muslim’s life and the way forward.

The president urged the nation to stand united and rise above petty differences and carry on the mission of Pakistan Movement with a commitment in the next phase to make the country a strong democratic entity

Mamnoon also urged the nation to ensure rule of law and service to the people of Pakistan as the core values that would take the country forward.Earlier, the president hoisted the national flag along with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at an inspiring ceremony.

The flag-hoisting ceremony started at 0900 hours after the blaring of sirens across the country and traffic coming to standstill. This followed the national anthem of Pakistan played by the students from different educational institutions of Islamabad.

The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in provincial capitals.Mamnoon said on Independence Day, the nation was also grieved over the loss of lives in the recent Quetta tragedy. “The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families of the victims,” he said, adding that their blood would not go in vain. “We settled this account in the past and will do so in the future too,” the president remarked.

He said the visible or invisible enemies of the country would be not let to escape as the Operation Zarb-e-Azb was coming to fruition and urged the security institutions to eliminate the menace of terrorism with a renewed resolve.He also paid tribute to the personnel of security forces and civilians who sacrificed their lives in terror incidents.

Mamnoon said democracy could pave way for national development even in unfavourable circumstances and took the country towards progress and prosperity by removing social differences.The president said the agenda of national development should never be compromised and the charter of education must be made the top national priority.

He said, “Amid the pleasures of Independence Day, we should not forget the people of Occupied Kashmir who had been denied their right to freedom.”The president reiterated the country’s resolve to continue providing political, diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiri brethren till they were given the right to plebiscite under the UN resolutions.