ISLAMABAD: Under the stewardship of the former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is playing the role of a vanguard for the sanctity of vote because only by upholding the sanctity of vote it is possible to implement the Constitution in its true spirit.
This was stated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb while addressing the Voters Day seminar at the Institute of Parliamentary Services here on Thursday.
She said that the PML-N would carry forward its campaign for the sanctity of vote in the light of the thinking and philosophy of Jinnah and Iqbal with the support of the masses. Marriyum remarked that it was the power of the vote that gave the Constitution, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and motorways to the country and made it a nuclear power.
The minister said that the democracy in any form was far better than dictatorship and strong democracy was a bulwark against dictatorship. She added that the youth, who were 65 per cent of the population, would have to make a pledge on the Voters Day to use their right of the franchise only on the basis of the performances of parties during the 2018 elections when democracy would have completed ten years of its journey.
Marriyum said that the constitution of Pakistan guaranteed democratic system and sovereignty of the public opinion. She added that the people of Pakistan had waged an admirable struggle for their right of vote, adding that respect for the public opinion was imperative for the continuation of democratic system and achievement of the higher objective of good governance.
The conference was attended by ECP Additional Secretary Zafar Iqbal Husain, Caucus Chairperson Shagufta Jamali, MNA Shaista Pervez, Senator Sitara Ayaz, Team leader Tabeer Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, representatives of NGOs, students of universities, members of the civil society and representatives of social organisations working for strengthening democracy in the country.