ISLAMABAD: PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that all national institutions must work within their assigned parameters in order to ensure victory in the ongoing fight against militancy.

“Fight against militancy is a collective fight of the whole nation. It can be fought successfully only when it is fought collectively, with each institution performing its assigned duties, within (its) parameters,” the former president said in his message on the eve of the 62nd birth anniversary of his late spouse and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

“As for the PPP, we are committed to exterminating the militant ideology that is posing an existential threat to the country,” he said.

The message was released by the party’s media office hours before Mr Zardari’s departure from Islamabad to Naudero where he will hold meetings with PPP office-bearers on Sunday.

Mr Zardari, whose outburst against the military leadership during a speech at a function here on June 17 created ripples in the political circles, termed the ongoing fight against terrorism a success and gave credit to the “unity of political forces” and “state agencies”.

Zardari praises role of armed forces in war

“This anniversary of our great leader is being commemorated at a time when the nation has achieved major successes against militancy, thanks to the unity of political forces and state agencies, an achievement that had eluded us for long,” he said.

“We salute all those in the defence forces, the police, the civil law enforcing agencies and the people who have sacrificed their lives or suffered otherwise in the fight against militancy. The nation cannot forget them and will not allow their sacrifices to go in vain,” he added.

“Let us reiterate our resolve once again that we will not let the militants dictate (to us) their political agenda through force.

“Pakistan will have to be a moderate and pluralistic country where the ultimate choice is made by ballot and not bullet,” he said.

The PPP recalled with pride that Ms Bhutto led from the front in the fight against militancy and even laid down her life in this epic struggle, he said.

The PPP leader said her birth anniversary was also “an occasion to reiterate our pledge to defeat the militant mindset and uphold the ideals of democracy, pluralism and rule of law” for which she stood and struggled throughout her life.

“We pledge to tread in her footsteps to further strengthen democracy, safeguard the rights of the marginalised sections and uphold and defend the values for which our founding fathers created this country. Let us also remember on this day all those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy, rights of the people and defending our motherland against internal and external threats.”

Our Correspondent in Larkana adds: Mr Zardari later arrived in Naudero along with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and some of his friends from China, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur and Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwer Siyal.

The PPP chief and his friends flew to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto and offered fateha at the Bhutto family’s mausoleum.

They will participate in Benazir Bhutto’s birth anniversary functions to be observed at Naudero House on Sunday.

According to PPP sources, about 600 guests, including the party’s MNAs, MPAs and office-bearers, have been invited to the main programme which will be followed by an Iftar-dinner.

The PPP leaders will visit Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto in the morning to participate in Quran Khwani and lay floral wreaths on the graves of Ms Bhutto and other members of her family.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2015

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