DLP Report
\nKOHAT
\nProvincial Information Minister Shafi Jan said on Friday that Pakistan could achieve genuine freedom only by upholding the rule of law, ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and respecting the people\u2019s mandate.
\nAddressing an Independence Day ceremony here to mark the country\u2019s 79th Independence Day, Mr Jan congratulated the nation and said freedom was not limited to territorial sovereignty.
\n\u201cTrue freedom is rooted in the rule of law, the supremacy of the Constitution and the protection of citizens\u2019 fundamental rights,\u201d he said.
\nRecalling the sacrifices made during the Pakistan Movement, the minister said millions had travelled long distances and laid down their lives for an independent homeland. \u201cWe must ask ourselves whether we have achieved the true freedom envisioned by our forefathers,\u201d he added.
\nMr Jan said societies progress only where justice prevails and law is applied equally. \u201cUnfortunately, the rule of law has not been consistently upheld in Pakistan since its creation. True freedom is possible only when the weak and the powerful are equal before the law,\u201d he said. Referring to the last general elections, he said questions had been raised about the people\u2019s mandate. \u201cImran Khan\u2019s position is clear: a system of governance can function, but a system based on oppression cannot,\u201d he said.
\nThe minister said that despite actions taken against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its founder over the years, the party had emerged stronger. \u201cThe people of Kohat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have stood with Imran Khan and PTI through every difficult period,\u201d he said.
\nHe added that PTI was founded for the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law, and that Mr Khan had struggled for these principles from the outset. \u201cPakistan cannot progress in the true sense until the people\u2019s mandate is respected and the candidate chosen by the people through their votes is given the right to represent them,\u201d Mr Jan said.
\nCalling Pakistan \u201ca great blessing from Allah Almighty,\u201d he said the value of freedom was best understood by nations still living under occupation. He urged that the country be built according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the ideals of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
\n\u201cAllama Iqbal, through his poetry, reminded Muslims of their status, responsibilities and the path towards progress and revival. We must take Pakistan forward in the light of Iqbal\u2019s ideals and the Quaid\u2019s principles,\u201d he said.
\nAnnouncing a nationwide campaign, Mr Jan said that as part of the struggle for the release of Imran Khan and for \u201ctrue freedom,\u201d people would take to the streets on September 27. The objective, he said, was to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and respect for the public mandate.
\n\u201cDespite raising our voice at various forums, approaching the courts and contacting the relevant authorities, our concerns have not been heard. When citizens find no avenue for their grievances, they are compelled to raise their voice publicly,\u201d he said. The minister thanked the Kohat administration, parliamentarians, party workers and citizens for organising the ceremony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DLP Report KOHAT Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan said on Friday that Pakistan could achieve genuine freedom only by upholding the rule of law, ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and respecting the people\u2019s mandate. Addressing an Independence Day ceremony here to mark the country\u2019s 79th Independence Day, Mr Jan congratulated the nation and said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":560873,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-561887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n