New era of democracy to bring political stability: Musharraf

Associated Press Service
ISLAMABAD:Mar 23 - President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday said an era of real democracy has begun in the country and expressed the hope that the new government will bring political stability and sustain economic development besides fighting extremism and terrorism. Addressing the Pakistan Day parade here at Jinnah Stadium, the President extended his full support to the new government and hoped it would maintain the pace of socio-economic development in the country.
Attired in off-white traditional ‘sherwani’, President Musharraf reviewed the military parade - a distinctive feature of Pakistan Day celebrations - and took salute from the marching columns of the three services.
Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Afzal Tahir, First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf and military and senior officials attended the ceremony.
The President said the three-phase program initiated eight years back, now neared culmination with new governments in place both at the centre and the provinces.
“We laid the foundations of real democracy in the past eight years and put Pakistan on the path of progress and development,” he said.
He expressed the hope that in the next few days all the governments will be in place and will work to put Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity.
The President particularly lauded the caretaker government for ensuring conduct of free, fair, transparent and impartial election on Feb 18.
He also appreciated the role of Election Commission, the staff associated with the task and the law enforcing agencies including the police, rangers, frontier corps and army in conducting peaceful elections.
President Pervez Musharraf greeted the nation on Pakistan Day.
“Our thoughts go back to 1940 when, under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Pakistan Resolution was passed at Minto Park, and led to the independence of Pakistan seven years later.”
He said the country’s independence has been vigorously guarded for the past 60 years and will Inshallah be maintained through hard work, dedication and selfless work for ever.
The President lauded the Pakistan Army and said it was not only a guardian of its geographical borders, but also protected its people whenever the need arose. He said, be it the devastation caused by the earthquake, ravaging floods or the gigantic task of reconstruction in the most difficult of terrain, or war against terrorism, the army always rose to the occasion.
He said Pakistan does not have any aggressive designs against anyone.
“Our military strategy is of defensive deterrence, but it is our belief that defence and security can only be attained through strength and never through weakness.”
“The nation should be proud of the fact, that their army is among the best in the world. May Allah always guide them and protect the nation.”