Centre invading Sindh, says Zardari

Calls people to stand up against ‘unconstitutional move’; says nation to slip into quagmire if Constitution trampled in this manner

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari, while dubbing the federal government’s rejection of the summary of the Sindh government as an unconstitutional invasion of Sindh by the central government, on Thursday called upon the people to stand up against the “unconstitutional move”.

“It is a sad thought on this Quaid’s day that the cherished principle of constitutionalism so dear to the Father of the Nation has been trampled by the central government by invading the province of Sindh against the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The nation will slip into the quagmire of instability and uncertainty if the Constitution was trampled in this manner,” he warned over the ongoing tussle between the federal government and the Sindh government on the powers of the Rangers in Sindh.

The statement of PPP Co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, was released on the eve of the 139th birthday of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, on Friday December 25.

The former president called upon the people to adhere to the principles of the Quaid, namely democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law, and to banish forever the militant and extremist mind-set.

He said the Father of the Nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had envisioned a democratic and progressive Pakistan where there was constitutionalism and rule of law and where every citizen would have equal opportunities to advance without any prejudice of religion, cast and creed. “The need to follow this philosophy was never as great as it is now,” he added.

Zardari said we also reiterate our resolve to fight the enemies within who seek to destroy the State in the name of religion. “We pay homage to all those in the armed forces, the police, the civilian law enforcing agencies and the people who have made huge sacrifices in the fight against extremists and militants,” he added.

He urged the people to forge unity in their ranks and reject attempts to undermine the Constitution. “I also urge the people to reject the militants’ narrative of religion and protect and preserve the values for which Pakistan was created by its founding fathers under the leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam,” he added.

Asif Ali Zardari said the Pakistan People’s Party reiterates its resolve to protect and preserve the Constitution and fight extremism to the finish. “Every worker of the party will continue to fight for these values to make Pakistan a truly democratic state where constitutionalism and rule of law reign supreme,” he added.