HYDERABAD: President Ayub appealed to the people today [Jan 18] to further the unity of the nation and forge a formidable front against those elements who were bent upon harming Pakistan. He was replying to an address of welcome presented to him by the Chairman and members of the Reorganising Committee, Hyderabad City Muslim League at the Circuit house this morning.

The President said that even today there existed parties in the country which did not believe in the ideology of Pakistan and would like to cause injury to the interests of the country by promoting disunity and discord among the people. Pakistan, he said, was passing through a crucial phase of its history and that was why the nation as a whole had to be extra vigilant and watchful.

The President endorsed the view that Opposition was essential to provide checks on governmental actions but added that it could not be desirable if it aimed at promoting the fissiparous tendencies among the nation with a view to thwarting its onward march. He said such elements would never be allowed to succeed in their evil designs and the nation would meet their challenge like one man.

The President reiterated that harmony among the people and stability in the Government was sine qua non for the progress of the country. The validity of this view, the President added, had now been fully established and no longer could people be duped by false slogans and tall promises.

He stressed the need for strengthening the Muslim League and expressed his satisfaction that the membership of the organisation in Hyderabad was expanding speedily. He said merely to become a member of the Muslim League was not enough. One had to work for it, especially in the social spheres where there was stupendous scope for work.

The President referred to the enormous growth in population and speedy urbanisation of several cities in the country. He said it was extremely vital to check the booming population, otherwise the entire economic planning would prove futile.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017