ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said the Pakistan People’s Party will fight religious extremists and not allow them to usurp political power in the name of religion.
In a message on the eve of the 90th birth anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zardari said that political ideals of the PPP’s founding chairman that all political power belonged to the people had inspired and will continue to inspire generations to come.
“I call upon the democracy-loving people to rededicate themselves to this ideal and not permit religious extremists to usurp power in the name of religion,” he said.
“Standing tall as a beacon of light and inspiration Zulfikar Ali Bhutto awakened the people and gave them hope,” he said.
Zardari said Bhutto illumined the path for the coming generations. “No one can rob him of his great achievements,” he added.
Bhutto, he said, restored the nation’s confidence, lifted the spirits of the people and gave them the gifts of a unanimous democratic constitution and a strengthened national defense.
“The PPP will protect this legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at all cost. On this day, we rededicate ourselves to the political ideals of Chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Today we also pay homage to all those who laid down their lives and endured exile, torture and imprisonment in the cause of democracy and fighting against tyranny,” he said.
