You know tolerance breeds tolerance
while intolerance begets violence. The national politics of present day
Pakistan is a true example of the same. It is PPP that kept its cool throughout
its history despite the worst kind of oppression inflicted by the rivals
It is believed that the Greek philosopher Aristotle
said, "The nature abhors a vacuum" since it invites forces to fill
the emptiness created by something or somebody. 50 years back the same was the
case with our motherland when the people of Pakistan were wandering in quest of
genuine leadership after the sad and untimely demise of our founding father the
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Here comes the day when Pakistan Peoples
Party was founded under the dynamic leadership of Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto
who gave hope to the people of Pakistan already pressed under the years long
rule of a dictator.
Commemoration
of Foundation Day is about uniting the people of Pakistan in general and the
workers of PPP in particular having a sense of belonging to the legacy Shaheed
Zulifqar Ali Bhutto bequeathed to the nation. As a matter of fact, the golden
jubilee celebrations reflect the Pakistani people's journey from hope to belief
which the nation saw in the PPP due to sacrifices made by the leaders and the
workers time and again. With sacrifices they sowed the seeds of tolerance and
other democratic virtues in national politics.
You know tolerance breeds tolerance while
intolerance begets violence. The national politics of present day Pakistan is a
true example of the same. It is PPP that kept its cool throughout its history
despite the worst kind of oppression inflicted by the rivals. The slogan of
Pakistan Khappey, by president Asif Ali Zardari ,was raised at a time when the
whole country was presenting the scene of lawlessness after the martyrdom of
Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto. The whole country echoed with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari's saying "Democracy is the best revenge." In fact he followed
the tradition set by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who herself was not inclined to
avenge her father Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto's assassination from the remnants
of Zia's legacy in the politics.
The
day gives us a reminder to engage with our workers while sticking to our
values. This day has a chance to reflect not only upon the beginnings of the
party and its founders, but also on the significant developments since the
party's inception. We are obliged to credit our Founding Fathers as the PPP mirror
the commitment, resilience and dedication they displayed throughout their
lives. Now the party flag is in Chairman Bilawal Bhutto's hands and he is
committed to realise the dreams of the martyrs. It is astounding that 50 years
ago, the leaders of PPP had such a commitment towards their goal on which
Pakistan Peoples Party was founded on November 30, 1967 and which was reflected
in the general election 1970 in the form of party principles:
l Islam is our Faith,
l
Democracy is our Polity,
l Socialism is our Economy &
l All Powers to the People.
History witnesses
that for the first time in Pakistan, a political party was founded in the light
of the people's aspirations. Pakistan in sixties represented a country with no
constitution, being run on adhocism while in the clutches of dictatorship. At
that time, the religion was used to divide the nation. The ruling elite
considered the majority as their subjects and the people were granted no right
to take decisions for the betterment of their own lives. 22 business families
had made the whole economy hostage to their greed. The PPP got the millions of
families united under their flag and the party manifesto became the key to the
people's struggle against the tyrannical rule. In 1973, the PPPgovernment gave
first constitution to the nation. By applying the universal teachings of Islam,
the PPP government discouraged all kinds of prides and prejudices across the
board. The Muslim Ummah seemed united for the first time in history. The
politics of democracy was fashioned and the people were elevated from the
status of subjects in the country. The system of social equality granted the
equal rights to the oppressed, and their rights were enshrined in the
constitution. Owing to these policies, the middle class flourished in the
country. The people came into power and started ruling the government. The
people were considered the source of political power. This true change and
social as well as political revolution was not acceptable to the powers of
status quo in the country. They deprived the nation of the Quaid-e-Awam.
The people without
their leadership became directionless in the wilderness f...