Journey of democracy to continue with zeal & zest: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb Saturday said the journey of democracy would continue with same zeal and zest which had passed on numerous dividends to the nation under the leadership of previous democratic leaders.
“The nation reaped dividends and fruits whenever there was a democracy in the country during the last 75 years,” the minister said while reiterating vision of the Quaid-i-Azam who rightly said that the country’s future was in democracy.
Addressing the Flag Painting Ceremony here at D-Chowk, she said the country became nuclear power during the democratic rule of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif who connected all federating units by establishing network of the motorway across the country.
She said it was Nawaz Sharif who completed the nuclear programme initiated by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1970s. He (Nawaz Sharif) made the country’s defence impregnable despite the external pressure.
Marriyum paid tribute to all scientists, engineers and others for their contribution in making the country an atomic power.
She said Nawaz Sharif eliminated terrorism from the country, brought economic growth to 6 per cent and ensured zero load-shedding during tenure of his previous government (2013-18).
“Whether it was nuclear deterrence, constitution, youth programme, Benazir Income Support Programme or 4G internet, we got all these fruits during democratic rules,” she said while eulogizing the all those who had rendered sacrifices in the struggle for democracy.
“Whenever democracy was attacked, it returned with full-force,” she said while terming the political system panacea for all the problems in the country.
She said the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 was a remarkable achievement of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s ear as it was passed with complete consensus of all the political parties. The Constitution ordered all the state institutions to perform their duties within their domain.
The minister re called that the largest province of country, Punjab was connected with all other provinces during the rule of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who had given mass transit system to all major cities. She said the national anthem had been re-recorded and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would unveil it on August 14 at the national flag hoisting ceremony. After Liaquat Ali Khan, PM Shehbaz would be the first prime minister to launch re-recorded national anthem, she added.