ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has expressed concern over what he has termed resurrection of banned militant groups because of the failure of the government to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.

In his message released by the party’s media office on the eve of the Independence Day, Mr Zardari, who served as president of the country from 2008 and 2013, paid tribute to those who had laid down their lives and suffered grievously in the fight against militancy and for the cause of democracy. “They all are our national heroes,” he said.

“There is a little serpent of doubt that bites the soul; banned militant and extremist organisations have been allowed to resurrect in total disregard of the law and NAP,” Mr Zardari said.

Says govt has failed to implement NAP

Referring to the latest terrorist attack in Quetta, the PPP leader said the enemy had struck again ahead of the Independence Day, “resulting in the martyrdom of our valiant soldiers and civilians”.

“We pay homage to our martyrs by reiterating the pledge to fight the coward enemy to the finish,” Mr Zardari said.

Felicitating the nation on completing 70 years of independence, Mr Zardari asked the people to rededicate themselves to the twin ideals of democracy and people’s welfare for which Pakistan had been created.

On this occasion, he said, “we should pay homage to the countless people who had sacrificed their lives and endured hardships to make the dream of Pakistan come true”.

“Amid celebrations today, we should not be unmindful of the threats to the basic values on which our nationhood was founded,” the former president said, adding: “Let us also on this day reiterate our total rejection of the attempts by some to turn Pakistan into a theocratic state by proclaiming loudly and clearly that Pakistan was never meant to be, nor will be allowed to degenerate into, a theocratic state.

“Welfare of the people must always be uppermost in our minds. The security of the country will be enhanced, not undermined, if the state focuses on welfare of the people.

“Let us on this occasion also reiterate our commitment to making Pakistan a truly modern, democratic, progressive and liberal country in the sense where freedom and opportunity are its defining characteristics.”

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2017