PM Imran urges the nation to follow his footsteps and make Pakistan a truly great country
Around the globe, Pakistanis are celebrating the 144th birth anniversary of the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He was born on December 25th, 1976, in Karachi.
Flags are hoisted on all principal government buildings, and the day is also a national holiday. Various events are planned both at government and private levels to celebrate Jinnah’s birth anniversary. A large number of citizens also pay their homage at the Mazar-e-Quaid today.
President and Prime Minister pay homage to the great leader
President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan both paid homage to the Quaid-e-Azam on his birth anniversary. “We pledge to follow his ideals to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country,” Dr Alvi said. He also said that Jinnah was a champion of minority rights and we should follow in his footsteps.
“As we celebrate the 144th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we pay him a rich tribute for his role in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent” the president said. He added that: “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to building a state that respects the diversity of its people and provides equal opportunities to its citizens irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or colour.”
Remembering Kashmir’s struggle for freedom
He also called upon the international community to rescue the people persecuted by the state in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). “On this day, we must also remember the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) who have been subjected to the worst form of state-terrorism for over seven decades. India has unleashed a reign of terror against them and has imposed a complete lockdown since last year. We urge the international community to compel and shame India to stop committing human rights violations and grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination as promised under the UN Security Council resolutions,” the President said.
Renewed national spirit
In his message, Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tribute to Jinnah, saying: “In the modern history of mankind, there are a few people who garnered such a wide popularity as our Quaid did. His determination to carve a nation out of chaos and relentless deprivation was miraculous and insuperable against all odds and challenges.”
He urged that “Let us live the Quaid’s ideals of Unity, Faith and Discipline with a renewed national spirit so that we make this country rise above all seen and unseen challenges.” He prayed to the Almighty that we could live up to Jinnah’s dream and make Pakistan one of the world’s strongest nations.
No power on earth can undo Pakistan
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said the nation was celebrating the Quaid’s birth anniversary with “great reverence and commitment upholding his message of hope, courage & confidence”.
“Faith, Unity and Discipline shall always remain guiding principles of our great nation,” the ISPR quoted him as saying.