Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) celebrated its 46th Founding Day on Friday, pledging to build a progressive and democratic Pakistan as envisioned by the party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
PPP co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari issued a message on the occasion, asking the democratic forces to gear up for the forthcoming general elections which he said would be free and fair.
PPP was launched on this day in 1967, in Lahore. It has ruled the country thrice in the past and was voted into power for a fourth time in 2008. Its present government is set to complete a five-year term in March and become the first elected government to run its full tenure.
Zardari vowed that the party would win the forthcoming elections and form governments in the center and in all provinces, including the population-wise biggest province of Punjab where the central opposition, Pakistan Muslim League-N headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is currently in power.
Political opponents dismiss the claim as a pipe-dream, citing what they call a dismal track record of the PPP government during the past four and a half years, marked by crippling energy shortage, alarming deterioration of law and order, insurgencies in two provinces, crushing inflation and economic decline.
The PPP, however, maintains the country has achieved surplus agricultural production during its tenure, the provinces have been empowered, politics of reconciliation has helped foster the democratic process and constitutional distortions made by military dictators have been rectified by transferring key powers from the presidency to the parliament.
In his message Zardari said,“Let us pledge once again today, that we will continue to work for the strengthening of democratic institutions as envisioned by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, for which they laid down their lives”.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in his message urged PPP workers to reiterate their pledge to keep working hard for making Pakistan an egalitarian democracy and a welfare state.
He said the party had strengthened the federation and had been a strong bulwark against forces which tried to undermine the federation.
Ceremonies were held by the PPP throughout the country to highlight the mission of its founder and his achievements and services for the cause of the people, especially the downtrodden classes.
