RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has called upon the people to recapture the passionate commitment to social justice, the rule of law and the supremacy of democratic institutions which was the hallmark of Quaid-i-Azam’s leadership. In a message to the nation on the occasion of the 26th death anniversary of the Quaid, the Prime Minister said: Since Sept 11, 1948, when the Quaid-i-Azam departed from our midst, we have observed his death anniversary more as a ritual than an occasion for heart-searching.

We have failed to capture that passionate commitment to social justice … which was the hallmark of the Quaid’s leadership. No goal was dearer to his heart than that of making all citizens of Pakistan feel completely secure in life, property and honour and of expelling bigotry from this land. Nothing was more odious in his eyes than the persecution of religious minorities. In this he was faithful to the genius of Islam which is a religion of benevolence. … We are observing the Quaid’s death anniversary soon after the nation has taken a historic and unanimous decision which is enshrined in the Second Amendment. … Let us go forth in the spirit of the Quaid to realise our destiny.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024