Fifty-seven years ago, under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Muslims of the subcontinent won a separate homeland for themselves after innumerable hardships and sacrifices. On this day, therefore, we must thank Almighty Allah that He blessed us with an outstanding leader who pulled the Muslims of the subcontinent out of the depths of despair and backwardness and placed it in the comity of world nations.
While it is heartening to see the people of Pakistan celebrating Independence Day with joy and fervor, I would like to impress upon them that this day comes around every year as a reminder of the tremendous and unprecedented trials and tribulations that led to the creation of Pakistan.
By the Grace of God Almighty Pakistan has made great progress since it attained independence, but its successes would have been greater if we had sincerely followed the motto of Unity, Faith & Discipline given to us by the founding father. As a thinking people we must also look seriously at our failures, go into their causes, and, in honesty to ourselves, ponder where we faltered and why.
It has been the privilege of this government to devise and follow policies that have helped to usher in a new era of progress and consolidation for the nation. I would like to assure my countrymen on this occasion that we shall not be neglectful in strengthening the democratic order.
Through democracy and democratic institutions, we are endeavoring to introduce a culture in which Pakistan should take precedence over everything else; a culture in which politics should become another name for service to the nation.
Some elements are purposely trying to disrupt the social values of this country and encouraging waywardness and shameless behavior in society. We will not tolerate this at any cost.
We are determined to promote the golden and everlasting principles of Islam to create a society in which the noble qualities of piety, modesty, truth, honesty, mutual respect, tolerance, patience and healthy competition should prevail.
This has to be a constant process in which both the government and the people will have to play effective roles so that the coming generations should grow up to be good Muslims and good Pakistanis.
During the last few years a conspiracy has been afoot to involve our dear homeland in terrorism, but we are facing the situation with great courage and strength.
Insha Allah! we shall not rest content till we have completely wiped out terrorism from our midst so that Pakistan should become a haven of peace and security.
We should follow the praiseworthy custom of wishing each other a “Happy Independence Day” just as we do on other national and religious occasions.
I am therefore very pleased to send my heartiest greetings to every Pakistani today. May Allah bless them all with true happiness in life. Ameen!
