ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari expressed apprehensions on Monday about ‘new forms of assault on the Constitution and parliament’.

In his Independence Day message, he said “the people and parliament must be watchful against such assaults on the Constitution and parliament,” without mentioning the forces posing the threat.

He said Pakistan’s founding fathers had envisioned it as a country where democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme and where the power of the ballot, and not bullet, would determine the political choices of the people.

“The restoration of the Constitution by all political forces and provinces raises a hope that despite setbacks we will revert to our true bearings and restore to Pakistan the values and ideals for which it was created.

“Let us on this day rededicate ourselves to the democratic ideals and principles of the Quaid-i-Azam. Adherence to the principle that political choices must be made by ballot, and not imposed through bullet, demands that we banish from our midst all forms of bigotry, extremism and militancy.”

He called for working together for strengthening democracy, empowering the people and making Pakistan a progressive, tolerant, moderate and modern country as envisioned by national leaders.