The Pakistan government is fully committed to weed out extremism and terrorism to ensure the safety and security of the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said.
He made the remarks in a special message on Pakistan's Independence Day on August 14. With the support of the people, the government will overcome all challenges and put the country on the path of development, he said.
"The Independence Day demands from us that we should plan our future strategy in the light of our past experiences. If we fail to correct our mistakes today, do not choose the right path, and continue to serve our personal interests instead of the national objectives, the future generations will never pardon us," Sharif said.
The PML-N government believes the country's well-being and security hinges on the continuation of the democratic process and respect for peoples' rights, he said.
In a separate message, outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari asked the people to stand united to safeguard and strengthen democracy and to work for a "progressive, tolerant, moderate and pluralistic Pakistan".
He paid tribute to citizens who laid down their lives or suffered while fighting militancy and extremism.
"The Independence Day celebrations this year have special significance as the nation is also celebrating, for the first time, peaceful democratic transition from one democracy to another," said Zardari, whose Pakistan People's Party was routed in the polls by the PML-N.
"Unfortunately, our past history is marred by repeated assaults on democracy and abrogation of the Constitution which was also endorsed by some state institutions," Zardari said.
Civilian political structures were weakened as Pakistan was made into a security-driven state with "enormous damage to our body politic", he added.
Zardari said those who lent legitimacy to the subversion of the Constitution "must be punished" and it was up to the parliament to decide "how to punish them".
