President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the PPP-led coalition government could not come up to its expectation on the debilitating energy crisis.
In an informal chat with the BBC after a luncheon at the Presidency on Thursday, the president said that he would have to supervise efforts to at least bring down the frequency and duration of power outages, if not end the crisis.
During the four-and-a-half year rule of the PPP, 3,500 megawatt electricity was added to the national grid – but the power crisis could not be overcome, according to the president.
Zardari also endorsed the impression that the PPP government has failed to check rising inflation in the country. He, however, blamed it on increasing oil prices in the international market and global financial crisis.
Zardari said he was the first president in the history of Pakistan to have voluntarily relinquished his powers to strengthen parliament. “Mian Nawaz Sharif (chief of main opposition party) not only appreciated this but also said that he could not believe a president could voluntarily clip his powers,” he added.
President Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the ruling party, said that he introduced major changes in the Constitution to devolve powers to the federating units. He added that the PPP gave autonomy to the Gilgit-Baltistan region and strengthened state institutions.
The president promised that the next parliamentary election would be held on time and the PPP would ensure maximum transparency and fairness to assuage the opposition’s concerns. He sought to dispel the impression that the PPP wanted to delay the elections.
Asked about a caretaker set-up, Zardari said the government has not started spadework for this. However, he added that an interim government would be put in place with consensus and nobody would have objection to it.
It would be the first democratic transition of power in the country’s history and this would strengthen the democratic process, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Atif Gill: Really and truly???????
Mr. Presidentis a great leader, he has the courage to take responsibility. This is the quality of a political leader that he accept his mistakes and take responsibility.He surely has lot guts & courage to drive the country in right direction.
The country is intact, the debt GDP ration remained in control despite global crises and government refused to resort to selling assets, contrary to what media portrays Pakistan's joblessness rate remained significantly low and rural economy remained at an all time high. Even today you cannot get a Mehran or Alto without paying own-money (premium) and people of Pakistan cannot stop crying. They should visit Europe to know what recession is or India to realise what poverty is! But Pakistanis are an example of the fact that you cannot cure one's suspicions.
Pakistan has seen unparalleled institution building and whatever one may think another grossly ignored fact is that 5 years back extremist forces were at the doorstep of Islamabad, where as today they have been pushed back to Waziristan. It is still a long way but Pakistanis fail to realise they are finally going in the right direction the credit of which solely goes to Zardari who did not allow the Establishment to derail democratic process.
The conditions / pressures / hyper hostility of judiciary to which the present political government was subjected, itis more than achievement / land mark in our political history that the government is going to complete its full term. It was only possible due to prudence, patience, tolerance of the personality of Zardari. Had there been some other government, the economic conditions might not have been better.
All the political party's chief and majority of the people of the country understood that Zardari is non experienced president but he has proved that he is experienced. He has gone through crisis after crisis,such as Memo Gate,Contempt of Court,Reopening of corruption Case in Switzerland. and other matters has not been narrated herein. He lost his wife,internationally recognized political leader just like her father. He faced increasing terrorism in the country no doubt army crucially involved in it ,but as a president of the country credit goes to him as head of the state.
PPP led government would fulfill its tenor,it is a result of Zardari's supervision and leadership.
Economy / Reforms - no one in PPP can understand these words let alone do something about it. The only thing PPP can understand is socialism that was herald by ZA Bhutto just because capitalists in his times did not agree to vote for him or approve his disastrous nationalisation policies. We all blame Taliban for culling but don't realise the mass murder of generations committed by the power hungry elite.
He relinquished Presidential powers becuase he knew very well that as vice chairman of the PPPP he will still be able to excercise those powers which he is doing now!!!!!!!!!!
His statement is only 1/10th truth. Zardari Government has failed in every field of Governance. The only remarkable achievement which goes to this Government's credit is the promotion of corruption.
Can you tell the national what is the accomplishment? No gas , no electricity, growing inflation, no water, increased foreign/domestic debt and No jobs
Is he finally waking up??
The inflation is multiple and can be seen escalating by geometrical progression and so is the corruption level also. Achievements of the Government are a question mark? Surely, we are moving up the scale in world index. Failure to contain the public issues of the masses by the Government will surely bring more chaos in the country as already it causing threat to the system as a whole.
@Anonymous: I strongly agree with you here on your this stance and now gradually PPP shall confess all its demerits,weaknesses and disabilities before the nation so that PPP's representatives could get the soft corner in the nation's hearts to get once again votes for majority to form/make the next government......
It was not only debilitating energy crisis where you failed Mr.President, your government failed in all spheres of governance of this nation and by God you failed miserably in protecting the citizen of Pakistan.
failure is everywhere Mr president & the credit goes to you, your party & your allies. don't be so naive that you didn't know what to do in 4 years :) Good bye to you come 2013 :)
I remember his interview when he said "Aap ki nazar me (In your eyes)" when asked about the crippled government run institutions(railways, PIA etc)
I see him admitting defeat in the elections from the above statement!
I feel for you zardari, must be hard keeping a check on inflation when you have your mind set on plundering wealth from so many sources