Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday underlined the need for national unity and cohesion to tackle the challenges faced by the country.

Addressing as Chief Guest at Lawyers Convention, organized by Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) at PHC premises, he said that "we also should unite on a single point agenda for the defence, integrity, solidarity and sovereignty of Pakistan."

"There is no danger to the country if the 180 million people of Pakistan stand united," he added.

He said "Pakistan was our country and we should all unite irrespective of political affiliation and party politics".

Gilani, who was the first elected Prime Minister to address Peshawar High Court Bar Association, lauded the constant and firm support of lawyers.

He said "our forefathers, lawyers, academicians, civil society had rendered matchless sacrifices during and later in creation of Pakistan and it was our national obligation to stand united for safeguarding our country's sovereignty."

He also lauded the active role played by the legal fraternity during the judges' restoration movement, for supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and restoration of sustainable democracy in the country.

He said lawyers, civil society and political forces had played a leading role against dictatorship and restoration of undiluted democracy in the country.

He said Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was also associated with legal profession, and added "parliamentary democracy in the ountry was the fruit of the matchless struggle made by our forefathers under dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam".

The Prime Minister said the challenges could be tackled through the Constitution, given by PPP Founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shaheed.

He said that it was the 1973 Constitution that protected the Country.