Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that democracy was not merely a political system but a continuous process ensuring active public participation in the development of society.
In her message on the International Day of Democracy, she said the purpose of observing the day was to highlight the importance of democratic values and promote their practical implementation.
The chief minister said democracy was a continuous journey whose ultimate destination was a balanced welfare society, adding that conscious citizens, honest leadership and the rule of law were fundamental to the success of democracy.
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said accountability was an important pillar of democracy and, on the occasion of International Day of Democracy, the commitment to accountability of corrupt elements was being reaffirmed. She said a systematic campaign was underway in Punjab to curb corruption. She stressed that supremacy of the Constitution was the true spirit of democracy, while an active civil society and effective institutions were essential for promoting and strengthening democratic traditions.
The CM said mutual tolerance, reconciliation and continuity of parliamentary traditions were indispensable for the promotion of democratic values.
She said democracy was the only way to achieve the destination of political, economic and social stability.
