Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi, central President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has said that Pakistan, our dear motherland, came into being as a result of a great struggle of the Muslims of sub-continent and their countless sacrifices. He said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah realized the dream of Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal by founding an independent and sovereign state. He said that the founding fathers envisaged Pakistan to be a modern, moderate, sovereign, welfare Islamic state, adding that today we were nowhere near our destination. He said that we had transitioned from a struggle for accomplishment of Pakistan’s objectives to the one aimed at protecting it because the spirit of Pakistan’s ideology had been undermined hugely. He said that the Ideology of Pakistan had been under severe and relentless attacks from the forces of terrorism, extremism and militancy, for the so-called politicians put the national interest at the backburner thereby allowing space for the forces of darkness.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held to mark the Independence Day celebrations in the central secretariat of PAT yesterday. MQI Secretary General Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gunapur, Bashrat Aziz Jaspal, GM Malik, Jawad Hamid, Qazi Faiz-ul-Islam were present on the occasion in addition to PAT district and tehsil Presidents and workers in large numbers. They were carrying small flags in their hands.

PAT President said that we had been deprived of real freedom for over last six decades as the ruling elite had been rendering our roots hollow and undermining the existence of the country due to their parochial interests. He said that we needed to revive the spirit of devotion, commitment and passion which once marked the freedom struggle by doing away with various divisions, adding that it was how we could resolve the crises we were facing in the present age. He said that the entire nation needed to rise above their narrow interests and eliminate divisions so that we could have a revival of passion of 1947.

Speaking on the occasion, MQI’s Secretary General Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that the purpose of establishing Pakistan was not merely to have a piece of land but it was to get an independent and sovereign state where the Muslims could reorder their collective and individual lives in accordance with their distinct ideology. He said that the Quaid wanted a state where all citizens could enjoy fundamental rights, socio-economic justice and equal opportunities for growth without any discrimination of caste, colour or creed. He said that we neglected the reality of Pakistan’s movement and thus hurt the souls of Pakistan’s founding fathers who rendered great sacrifices for the attainment of separate homeland for the Muslims.

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gundapur said that today’s Pakistan was in clash with the thought and vision of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that our society collectively portrayed a picture of pessimism and deep rooted despondency which was far away from national honour, progress and prosperity. He said that political parties did not espouse the politics of manifestoes and public agendas. He said that an electoral system which bred corruption, rigging, and vested interests was eating the vitals of state and society. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s struggle for change in the electoral system would become the basis for introduction of real democracy and herald an era of prosperity in near future.

Bashrat Aziz Jaspal also addressed on the occasion.