Islamabad, Aug 14 (IANS): President Asif Ali Zardari has called upon the people to make Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic country, adding that much could have been achieved had dictators not repeatedly subverted the democratic process.

In his message to the nation on the country's 65th Independence Day, Zardari said: "We are witnessing the power of democracy in action. Let us collectively employ the democratic power in the service of the country and people."

"Much could we have achieved if the democratic process had not been repeatedly subverted and the constitution abrogated and held in abeyance by dictators."

"The nation can take pride that it has closed that sorry chapter. Let us pledge that we will never allow the subversion of the constitution and the democratic process," APP quoted him as saying.

Zardari said Pakistan was envisaged to be a country where there would be no discrimination on the basis of creed, gender or sect and where minorities would enjoy equal rights as citizens of the state and fully-integrated in the mainstream of national life.

"Our thoughts also go to the founding fathers and to all those who made untold sacrifices to make Pakistan a free, independent and sovereign country," he said.

Zardari said 64 years ago Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia where democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme.