LAHORE: In what appears to be a message to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and some other elements, former president Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated the PPP’s stance that it is determined to foil conspiracies against democratic set-up in the country.

“The party is conscious of threats to democracy in the name of democracy itself and is determined to foil them. We will not permit anyone to impose any specific political or ideological agenda through brute force behind the facade of religion,” Mr Zardari said on the occasion of the party’s foundation day falling on Nov 30 (today).

Mr Zardari arrived here on Saturday to attend the two-day activities at the Bilawal House in connection with the foundation day.

Says PPP is determined to foil conspiracies against democracy

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has, however, excused himself from attending the important event of the party. He is in London and his party says he cannot attend the event because of his “personal engagements” there.

Like he extended full support to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government prior to Imran Khan’s PTI and Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s march on Islamabad on Aug 14, Mr Zardari has again given a clear message on the eve of the much-hyped PTI Islamabad rally that the PPP wants the government to complete its tenure. Although the PPP supports the PTI’s demand for investigating massive rigging allegations, it is against removing PM Sharif through a protest drive.

“Our founding principles - democracy is our politics and all power to the people - are ingrained in the consciousness of the people and will never be erased,” he said.

Mr Zardari further said: “The PPP mission is that of hope, of emancipation, of alleviating poverty, of rejecting the self-styled custodians of morality and ideology and of upholding human dignity. In the pursuit of this mission our two chairpersons and countless workers have laid down their lives.”

He said the PPP was born during the epic struggle against dictatorship and “it is proud of its record of fighting against all forms of dictatorships, be it military or civilian in character.”

“While the threat of imposition of direct dictatorship may appear to have receded we are not unmindful of the other forms of threats to democracy that rear their ugly heads from time to time. The PPP is aware of such threats and is ready to fight against them,” the PPP co-chairman said.

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said two sessions of the foundation day event would be held in Bilawal House, Lahore, attended by workers and party officials from all over the country.

“The session on Sunday will be attended by the party workers and leaders from Punjab while the workers and office-bearers from other provinces including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and tribal areas will attend the convention on Tuesday,” he said.

Mr Zardari will interact with the workers and seek their suggestions to strengthen the party in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2014