ANKARA - Former Prime Minister and Senior Vice-president of PPP Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that the political forces in Pakistan have fought many battles and rendered many sacrifices for democracy.

Speaking to the 4th party congress of the Justice Development Party (AK Party) here, he said the journey of democracy in Pakistan has also been a persistent endeavour towards attaining the ideals.
This was a unique honour for the Pakistani dignitary to speak to a gathering of about 40,000 members/delegates of the AK Party and over 200 foreign dignitaries who attended the event at Ankara Arena.
“As a politician and a practitioner of democracy, I am overwhelmed by the pulse of this arena, the energy and the enthusiasm of the thousands of people present here today”, he said
He said that this Congress represents party’s culture of pluralism and consensus and reflects AKP’s enduring appeal with the Turkish people.
Further he added that it is indeed no surprise that this Congress has decided to repose its unanimous confidence in AK Party dynamic leadership.
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani congratulated the Turkish leadership on this great accomplishment and said that the Turkey of tomorrow has chosen to entrust its destiny to the same pair of hands that have so successfully charted its path to growth and prosperity since 2002.
Gillani said today, the progressive rule of the AKP serves as a source of inspiration to many in the region, adding, the people-centric, development oriented policies pursued by this government has brought a qualitative change in the lives of the common man.
He said that he sees in the twinkling eyes of every man and woman, young and old, present in this arena, a fulfilment of the very ideals that all democratic movements have stood for - ideals of free conscience and wilful choice.
Gilani said that today as the longest serving democratically elected Prime Minister in Pakistan’s history, he stands before them as a triumph of these democratic convictions for which Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto laid down their lives.
He emphasized that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkey is very rightly described as “special”, as it is alive in the hearts of the peoples of the two friendly countries.
Gilani said the establishment of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) was indeed a milestone in the history of Pakistan-Turkey relations.
He said that it was an honour for him to have worked closely with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in transforming this special relationship into an enhanced 21st century partnership in the political, security, economic and cultural domains.
He expressed the confidence that succeeding generations of the two countries will carry forward this “sacred trust” with equal zeal and enthusiasm.
The former prime minister extended on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari, on behalf of the Pakistan People’s Party, and on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, their sincerest best wishes to the Turkish Prime Minister and his team in the fulfilment of their future vision.Gilani also met with Dr Nauman Kurtulmus, the newly appointed member of Central Executive and Steering Committee (MKYK) of the AK Party.