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PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH AT THE DINNER HOSTED BY HIM IN HONOUR OF
61ST
Bismillah-ar-Rehman-ar-Raheem
Ladies and Gentlemen: My wife and I welcome you to this special evening. An evening when we may share our common joys and sorrows; Our beliefs and our doubts; Our hopes and our misgivings. Let us dedicate this evening to fraternity and companionship. For most of us in the present Government, and specially for me personally, it has really been an arduous path for the democracy to have reached here. A journey painted with sweat and blood; with toils and labours; and with pain and anguish. Yet the journey was worth taking. And the long walk to freedom seems finally to be over. As the famous Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz has said: We express our gratitude to all those stake holders of the state who have facilitated this process of democratic transition. Especially the armed forces of Pakistan for their judicious and prudent approach to the unfolding political realities. Unlike other armies of the world, Pakistan Army carries a unique and delicate responsibility. It has to defend the ideological boundaries along with the geographical boundaries of this country. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah while addressing 5th and 6th Ack Ack Regiments in Malir on 21st February 1948 stated and I quote “You have fought many a battle on the far-flung battle-fields of the globe to rid the world of the Fascist menace and make it safe for democracy. Now you have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own native soil”.
It is the organization,
experience and the self confidence of commanders such as you which makes
an army superior. And I do believe that you excel in freedom of spirit and
in taking decisions. Any self respecting nation will take pride in a strong defence force. Let me therefore assure you that the present government will continue to support, and provide the best for you, with arms, equipment and finances. It will help advance your defence capability to guard our frontiers and never to covet any aggressive design. The basic objective of our 1973 Constitution, unanimously accepted by all the public representatives, the Judiciary, the Armed Forces and now the Media is the service of the people of Pakistan. The ultimate need of time is a coordinated and well thought out joint action plan. Such a plan has not been so strong in the past. We can not afford to waste time to argue about the reasons for colossal mistakes of the past because not much is left with us. We need to join hands to provide a decent life, a peaceful society and friendly administrative system for the people who have again provided us with a chance to prove our intentions and the claims we so loudly make. The Nation has welcomed the recent remarks by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and his call regarding the strict adherence to the oath taken under the constitution, in discharging their duty. Adherence to the structural command by concentrating strictly on the professional matters alone; has also greatly enhanced the respect of the forces in the eyes of the people at large. We also appreciate the decision to withdraw the military personnel serving in the civil and corporate sector. The modern world of today calls for a new and balanced relationship between the civil and military Institution of the state. A relationship based on mutual respect and dignity. Let us march together, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder towards peace, prosperity, and equality with the fold of democracy. Let us move towards freedom from ignorance, bigotry, disease, and poverty, and let us build together a democratic republic based on rule of law, justice and fair play, to all the citizens across the board. It is imperative upon us to give up our individual and organizational interests to provide a secure and harmonious country to the future generations where democratic and civil rights of the citizens which conform to the internationally recognized principles. I hope we will be able to formulate a new testament despite all odds and constraints. Nothing is insurmountable when support of the hundred and sixty million people is behind us. Let’s turn the tide before it wipes us from the surface of history. Pakistan Paindabad. |
