Islamabad: Former President of Pakistan and President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Asif Ali Zardari in his message on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy said that democracy is our soul.

Zardari said that whenever efforts have been made to crush the spirit of democracy, the leadership and workers of the PPP have sacrificed their lives to save it. The leadership and workers of the PPP have led the people by lighting the lamp of democracy with their blood.

Zardari said that Quaid-e-Awam, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the flag bearer of democracy. He said that the Mother of Democracy, Begum Nusrat Bhutto sacrificed her entire life for the sake of democracy in Pakistan. Whenever the sun of democracy has risen, it has done so from Garhi Khuda Baksh.

Asif Ali Zardari said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto endured imprisonment, oppression and violence for the sake of democracy.

President Zardari said that the jiyalas were flogged and endured imprisonment for the sake of democracy. An empowered parliament is the hallmark of democracy, President Zardari said. The Pakistan Peoples Party empowered the parliament with the help of its allies.

Whenever efforts have been made to deviate from democracy and weaken and disrespect the parliament, the country has suffered difficulties. In order to combat challenges, it is important that there is a parliament elected by the people that works for the people.