December 25, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 20, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, has said Quaid-i- Azam stood for constitutionalism, rule of law, respect for human rights and honouring the mandate of the people.

In a message she felicitated the nation on Quaid’s birth anniversary falling on Wednesday and urged the people to forge unity in their ranks to regain their democratic and political rights “usurped by a military dictatorship behind the facade of sustainable democracy”.

“On this auspicious occasion I wish to greet the entire Pakistani nation,” she said.

“The Quaid’s birthday indeed is a day of rededication to the ideals and principles of the father of the nation. But it also is a day of introspection and reflection-to pause and ponder as to how far we have upheld the ideals and principles for which the Quaid created this homeland of ours,” she said.

“It is a sad thought that on the Quaid’s birthday falling this year, his ideal of constitutionalism has been negated by piecemeal revival of the Constitution to suit the undemocratic and dictatorial agenda of the regime.

“Manipulating the mandate of the people who have been denied their right to freely choose their own representatives and government has negated Quaid’s ideal of democracy, she said.

The PPP chairperson warned that unless the right of the people to install a government of their choice in a fair free manner was honoured, the future of the country would be exposed to internal and external threats.

“As followers of the great Quaid, let us pledge to pursue the ideals of rule of law and reject discrimination as a philosophy to govern,” the message read.

She condemned the politics of blackmail and victimization.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: Ms Bhutto has also felicitated Christian community on Christmas falling on Wednesday.

In a message on Christmas eve she said: “I wish to felicitate Christians all over the world particularly the Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan on the auspicious occasion of Christmas.