Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday said the "greatest threat" to Pakistan`s democracy is posed by extremists and militants, who want to "foist their political
agenda on the people by bullet rather than ballot."
Zardari said the government led by his Pakistan People`s Party is committed to fighting militancy and also to continuing on the path of mutual accommodation and reconciliation in domestic politics.
"The greatest threat to democracy is from the extremists and militants who want to foist their political agenda on the people by bullet rather than ballot and also from intolerance
to dissent and disagreement," he said in a statement on the occasion of International Democracy Day.
Zardari expressed his government`s "commitment to fight the militants and militancy to protect our core democratic values.
"I also wish to reiterate that we will continue to pursue the path of mutual accommodation and reconciliation that we chose to tread soon after the general elections last year."
The President also vowed to fight all anti-democracy forces in the tradition of PPP leaders Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto who laid down their lives for democracy.
He said it was heartening that the day is being observed in Pakistan "when there is a representative government in place as a result of elections and the presidency is occupied
by an elected head of the state."
Bureau Report
