Nation celebrates Quaid's 142nd birth anniversary

KARACHI: The nation is celebrating the 142nd birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today with traditional fervor and renewed commitment to work towards the country’s progress and prosperity.

An impressive change of guard ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi this morning. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul assumed the guards’ duty from Pakistan Air Force at the mausoleum.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the mausoleum to pay homage to great leader of the sub-continent.

In their separate messages to mark the day, President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan called for adhering to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and following his guiding principles of unity, faith and discipline in our individual as well as collective lives.

The president in his message said Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and thoughts are as relevant today as they were seven decades ago. “ It is an occasion for all of us to rejoice and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of democracy, egalitarianism, constitutionalism and rule of law which were upheld by our great leader throughout his life,” he added.

He said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah united the discordant Muslims of sub-continent, welded them into a nation and secured a separate and independent homeland for them where they could spend their lives in accordance with their own custom and their traditions.

“He steered the Muslim of sub-continent during the most tumultuous times and enabled them to withstand heavy odds and to achieve independence through a democratic struggle. Quaid-e-Azam’s vision and thoughts are as relevant today as they were seven decades ago.”

President Alvi stressed the need to follow Quaid’s principles of “Unity, Faith and Discipline” wholeheartedly. “I urge the people of Pakistan to forge unity among their ranks in order to eradicate menaces of extremism, terrorism and corruption from our society. On this day, let us also pledge that we shall work tirelessly individually as well as collectively, in the service of our great country, in line with the Quaid’s vision.”