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Wednesday, 28 December 2011

Will not let Federation break: President Zardari


GARHI KHUDA BAKSH: President Asif Ali Zardari while addressing the gathering on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said that all institutions were under parliament and they (PPP) would not let the Federation break. 

The president added that his party believed in democracy and listened to the parliament. 

President Zardari further said that they would continue to fight undemocratic forces but would do so following democratic norms. 

“We will fight for democracy, not seats” said President Zardari. 

Speaking on the legacy of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari said that Asifa will keep her legacy alive. 

"We want to make history, not headlines" the president added.

APP adds:

"We will fight any evil eye that is a threat to the federation, but our way will be that of Aung San Suu Kye,” the President said referring to the Myanmar leader, for her struggle for democracy. 

The President said all his steps would be under the Constitution, that was restored during his stint in power.

Wearing a Sindhi cap, a beaming President told an emotionally charged crowd that he was son of the soil and could feel the pain of this land. According to some independent estimates around 500,000 people had thronged the venue.

President Zardari said all forces were under the Parliament and said he always listened to the Prime Minister because he represented the federation and was a representative of the people through the Parliament.

He said he decided to hand over all powers to the Prime Minister as he wanted the democracy to nurture. He asked the people and the party workers to remain steadfast and not to be deterred by temporary challenges.

He said he would never let his people fight or sacrifice for his sake.
“We will fight for democracy as we do not fight for seats.”

The President said only real democracy could deliver and pointed that attempts were being made to introduce “tailor-made democracies” and added that those who were now jumping fences do not have any significant achievements to their credit.

“Is this to derail real democracy, or an attempt to bring in some dictator,” he asked.

“Democracy can deliver and will deliver,” he asked “how much time has been given to the nascent democracy. It will take time for it to flourish.”

He paid rich tributes to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for remaining steadfast and said he stood by him. He said though protocol wise, Gilani reported to him, but in fact, the Prime Minister was the leader of all.

“You would not find Yousuf Raza Gilani stumble at any stage,” the President said.

"Politics is art of the possible, but making a nation is the art of impossible and what I am doing is the art of impossible.”

The President said in the same context, he gave an identity to the Pashtuns and no one can take back that identity for centuries to come. This land suffered many pains that began from Sardar Nouroz Khan.

The President said he wants to help the people of Balochistan and end their problems, but added, it would have to be done within the framework of the federation.

“We have spent years in jails,” he said and mentioned to six years imprisonment of the Prime Minister and 12 years of his own imprisonment.
He asked the Baloch to fight the way he himself fights and referred to his life long struggle.

The President said he would do all for the Baloch, but stressed that it would only be done, while remaining under the federation.
The President also favoured a separate province in South Punjab and said “the people seek their rights from Takht-e-Lahore [rulers of Punjab].”

He mentioned that the case of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is still pending with the courts and regretted that other cases were getting the attention, while important ones were pending.

He said he had decided not to pursue the investigation by the United Nations as it did not question the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He said he would write an article in Washington Post and raise questions on it.

He said it has been days that he has not talked directly to his people and shared with the people his thoughts.

The President waved a copy of the party manifesto and said that he would give it to renowned writer Munno Bhai to analyse the achievements. He said he was proud to say that 80 per cent of the party manifesto had been accomplished.

President Zardari said there was recession in the world, however food was available for the people of Pakistan despite braving two huge floods that was also dubbed as Tsunami by the UN.

He said still Pakistan’s food stores were full and no one was hungry in the country.

President Zardari said Pakistan had decided not to be part of any international war game.

“We have decided not to join any ‘theatre of war’ which has nothing to do with us,” he said and added that rather trade would be the top priority with international community.

He categorically said that Pakistan would enter into trade pacts with other countries of its choice, and not on the behest of any other country.
“Your own economies are in trouble. Should I care for the children of my country or look after your interests?,” the President said, raising a question to the international community.

President Zardari stressed the need for new trade blocs with regional countries including China, Russia and Central Asian states. He clarified that these would not be the blocs of aggression but of mutual trade.
He said he introduced the concept of barter trade system due to the current financial recession across the world.

He said Pakistan had signed agreements with Turkey and China in this regard for the mutual benefit of the countries.

About the ongoing financial crises in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the President asked the Union leaders to consult some expert on the issues before raising hue and cry over them.

He pointed to the objection raised against the proposed code-sharing of PIA with Turkish Airlines and said the idea could prove beneficial for the national flag career.

President Zardari strongly dismissed the rumours about his medical fitness and said he was medically fit, though he suffered a problem as minor as a muscle strain.

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