Internews/Islamabad

Pakistan Navy cadets, police and government officials attend a flag hoisting ceremony to mark the country’s Independence Day in Karachi yesterday
Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said yesterday on the occasion of Independence Day that democracy was the most effective system and that the future of Pakistan depended on it.
Addressing the August 14 flag hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, Ashraf said that the Pakistan movement was a perfect example of a democratic and constitutional struggle for independence.
“The freedom movement is a best example of democratic and constitutional struggle which proved to nations of the world that democracy is embedded in blood of Muslims,” he said.
He said that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had sacrificed their lives for their democratic ideas.
The prime minister said that the democratically-elected government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had achieved several financial and political targets.
Referring to some of the achievements of the democratic government in the last four years, the prime minister said in these four years the size of the Public Sector Development Programme has expanded from Rs416bn to the level of Rs873bn and the remittances from foreign countries crossed $13bn.
“We are proud that in the last four years we made prominent achievements and with the grace and benevolence of Allah today roots of democracy are strong in Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistani youth perform during a ceremony to mark the country’s Independence Day in Islamabad yesterday
Extending an offer of dialogue to all political parties for reconciliation and hold fair, free and impartial elections, the prime minister hoped that the political leaders by realising national responsibility would cooperate with the government.
Ashraf said for holding an impartial and transparent next general election, “we are taking the opposition into confidence, and for this we have taken a start from the consensus appointment of Chief Election Commissioner.”
He said that devolution of powers to the provinces through the passage of the 18th Amendment was a significant step taken by the government.
Ashraf said that for the first time in the country’s history and under the PPP-led coalition government, elected representatives had been included in the formulation of the country’s foreign policy.
He said that the government wanted the resolutions to the issues of Afghanistan and Kashmir in accordance with UN resolutions.
Speaking on minority rights in the country, the prime minister said that the government had taken various steps to socially and financially facilitate religious minorities.
The prime minister congratulated the people on the country’s 66th Independence Day.
Army chief calls for new laws to tackle terrorism
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf speaking to the audience during the flag-raising ceremony to mark the 66th Independence anniversary in Islamabad yesterday
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has called for formulating new laws to deal with the menace of terrorism and said that the entire world has framed new laws to punish the terrorists, Internews reports from Islamabad.
Addressing a gathering at Azadi Parade yesterday, he said that the war against extremism and terrorism did not belong to only the army but it was also the war of the entire nation.
“It is imperative that the entire nation is united and the army could only be successful with the cooperation of the people,” he added.
General Kayani said till now the army and people have rendered great sacrifices at this front for which he paid great homage to martyrs and their families.
He said that these sacrifices would only be successful when the civil administration would be able to take responsibilities without the help of the armed forces. It would take some time but it should be the ultimate goal, he said.
The COAS said it was imperative to improve a situation in the affected areas. The army along with the government has so far completed economic and welfare projects worth Rs25bn. It would also spend the same amount for the completion of more projects in the next two years.
A face-painted youth standing in front of Pakistan’s national flag during a ceremony to celebrate the country’s Independence Day at Wagah yesterday
General Kayani said he realised that it was the most difficult task for any army to fight with its own people but it was done as a last resort.
“Our actual objective that peace is returned in these areas and people could live there with peace. But it is necessary that all the people follow the Constitution of the country and its laws,” he added.
He said no state could tolerate a parallel system and military force, as peace could be ensured only by following the principles of Islam and the Constitution of the country.

Men performing a traditional dance to the beats of drums during an Independence Day ceremony in Quetta yesterday