KARACHI – The 134th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also observed on Saturday. President Asif Ali Zardari visited the mausoleum of the Quaid to pay homage to the founder of Pakistan.
He laid floral wreath, offered Fateha and recorded his impressions in the visitors’ book. The president was accompanied by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, along with members of the provincial cabinet, also visited the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam, laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.
Earlier, a contingent of the gentlemen cadets of the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul mounted ceremonial guard at the Mazar of Quaid. The representatives of the three services also laid floral wreath and offered Fateha while people from various walks of life visited the mausoleum of the Quaid to pay him tribute.
Various organisations and academic and other institutions organised programmes to pay homage to the Father of the Nation. The newspapers published special supplements and electronic channels and radio aired special programmes on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam.
Kashif Abbasi adds from Islamabad: Eminent scientist and architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, on Saturday said Pakistani nuclear weapons were in safe hands. Speaking at Faizul Islam School to mark the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Dr Khan said, “The father of the nation gave us Pakistan and we made it a nuclear power.”
Expressing his concern on the unabated corrupt practices by the rulers, Dr Khan said corruption in Pakistan was on the rise and there was a dire need to get rid of this menace. He said Quaid’s golden principles were a beacon of light for upcoming generations.
“Politicians who are talking about a revolution in Pakistan like Iran and France must remember this cause demands sacrifices,” he stressed. Meanwhile, various political parties also organised functions to mark Quaid’s 134th birthday.
PML-N, PML-Q and Musharraf-led All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) organised functions at their party secretariats to mark the day. Former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf said in his telephonic address to party workers that Pakistan was passing through a critical juncture and to pull the country out of the existing turmoil, the nation had to follow Quaid’s teachings in every field of life.
He said Quid-e-Azam was a progressive leader and he wanted a country where believers of all religion could practice their rituals independently. Musharraf said unfortunately, it did not happen in Pakistan due to so-called religious scholars and politicians. PML-Q central leader Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain paid rich tributes to Quaid for his struggle for the creation of Pakistan.
“Pakistan came into being after great struggle and sacrifices, but a political party disintegrated it in 1971 for achieving its political goals,” he lamented without mentioning the name of the party. PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq said Pakistan “is facing various internal and external challenges as Quaids’ teachings are not being followed”. He said only the PML-N had the capacity to lead the country towards prosperity.
