ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his gratitude and felicitated the National Assembly Secretariat for successfully organising month-long activities for celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Constitution. We do not define ourselves by the challenges we face, but how we face the challenges, he said. He said that despite dictators having trampled the Constitution, the people of Pakistan have always emerged victorious.
Chairman FM Bilawal said that the credit for the continuity of democracy goes to the people of Pakistan. He also said that the PPP never took the law into its own hands, it rather preferred rendering sacrifices across three generations for the sake of the country. While narrating the ordeals of the worst authoritarianism, he said that the PPP has always chosen the democratic path.
While addressing the closing plenary of the Golden Jubilee of the constitution, FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that one populist political fiction has taken politics hostage, causing great inconvenience to the people of Pakistan. He said that the people of Pakistan have and will always reject violence, be it in any form or initiated under any slogan. The people of Pakistan and political parties show total confidence in the Parliament, the Speaker and all the state institutions.
He said that the recent law and order situation is deplorable as certain undemocratic elements have been trying to destabilise the country. He said that the Constitution was trampled without remorse by military dictatorships which were all defeated by the struggles of the people. He resolved that the PPP would continue its struggle against aggression and un-constitutionalism.
Meanwhile National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf says Constitution is a corner stone of collective and individual freedoms and it ensures provision of all freedoms to each citizen irrespective of caste creed and colour.
Addressing the concluding session of the International Parliamentary Convention in Islamabad on Thursday, he said dictators have always trampled constitution but people of Pakistan always stood against them and credit for continuity of democracy goes to them.
Later on, Speaker National Assembly and Foreign Minister of Pakistan also distributed prizes to winners of declamation contests which were organised across the country.
It is pertinent to mention that international constitutional convention culminated the month long celebration of golden jubilee celebration of constitution where launch of a Constitution App, the release of a Commemorative Coin by the State Bank of Pakistan and the issuance of 50 Rupee Commemorative Stamp was also issued. Besides, a collection of historic speeches made by prominent Parliamentarians on the floor of the house was also displayed.
A wall of unsung heroes of democracy was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to commemorate the role, and the fight of people to preserve, further and restore democracy in Pakistan. Furthermore, a monument was also inaugurated at the Constitution Avenue to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Constitution.
The Old Assembly Hall at the State Bank building was declared as national heritage on the 10th of April convention. Exhibition of historic milestones, speeches and newspaper articles from Dawn and Jang Newspaper from 1973 were displayed at the Parliament of Pakistan.
Meanwhile the International Parliamentary Convention has called for greater cooperation amongst the world democracies to promote democratic values, constitutionalism and rule of law in their respective countries.
The outcome document adopted on the conclusion of a two-day international parliamentary convention in Islamabad on Thursday also emphasized on ensuring balance of the trichotomy of powers to promote peace, prosperity for secure sustainable and prosperous future for coming generations.
The document emphasized that parliamentary supremacy, rule of law and independence of judiciary as envisaged by the father of the nation Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the constitution of the Pakistan as well as other constitutional democracies have to be respected for a just social and political order aimed at ensuring freedoms.
The participants of the convention reaffirmed to work together in unison to ensure well-being and protection of fundamental rights and prosperities of people as enshrine in the constitutions of their countries.
The document reiterated to unite a cross countries, cultures and faiths as well as taking forward knowledge of the wisdom, drawn from this Parliamentary convention and its inspirational theme, "My Constitution Guarantees of My Freedoms".
It also expressed participants desire to work together to strengthen their role of presentation, legislation and oversight as elected representatives of the people.