NEW YORK:
Beseeching the international community to not become “silent observers”, President Asif Ali Zardari has moved the United Nations to immediately take notice of the anti-Islam movie — insisting such acts be criminalised.
At the outset of his speech at the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the president said: “Before I take up my speech, I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved prophet, Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).”
Categorically condemning the controversial movie that has sparked angry protests across the Muslim world, President Zardari said: “The International community must not become silent observers and should criminalise such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.
“Pakistan moves the United Nations to immediately address in earnest this alarming concern and the widening rift to enable the comity of nations to be one again,” he asserted.
“I am not here to answer questions about Pakistan. I am here to ask some questions on behalf of my people,” he told the UN General Assembly.
“On behalf the two year old baby who was killed in the bombing at Lahore’s Moon Market on December 7, 2009... On behalf of the traders and entrepreneurs in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi, of the dozens of marketplaces that have been ravaged by multiple bombings. Over and over and over again. And perhaps most of all, on behalf of my three children, whose mother [Benazir Bhutto] was also martyred by terrorists...
“[I ask] How much more suffering can Pakistan endure?”
Terrorism
President Zardari said that terrorism and extremism had not only destroyed human lives, torn social fabric, and devastated the economy of Pakistan but the rest of the world.
“Our economy, our lives, our ability to live... have been challenged. Globally, we face enormous challenges,” he conceded. “Our condition today is a product of dictatorships.”
Emphasising that no country and no people had suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism than Pakistan, the president said that drone strikes and civilian casualties have continued to add to the complexity of this war.
Rebutting critics and constant demands to do more, he said: “To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead, and the pain of our living. Do not ask of my people, what no one has ever asked of any other peoples. Do not demonise the innocent women and children of Pakistan.”
Foreign policy
Discussing Pakistan’s foreign policy, he said that the country’s strategic partnership which China was growing from strength to strength.
Reiterating Pakistan’s support for a sovereign, stable and secure Afghanistan, President Zardari said: “We have begun to engage and deepen our friendship with the entire range of the Afghan political spectrum. We believe that a sovereign, stable and secure Afghanistan is good for the Afghan people. And what is good for the Afghan people is good for Pakistan.”
Using the occasion to bring to light the issue of the Afghan refugees, he said that “our hearts and homes remain open to our Afghan brothers”, adding that it was imperative for the international community to support the three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan in their quest to return home with dignity.
“A brighter Afghan future will only be possible when the search for peace is Afghan-owned, Afghan-driven and Afghan-led,” he stated.
Future prospects
After highlighting the issues facing the country, the president emphasised on the importance of “collective efforts and commitment” which will provide a better future for Pakistan.
He stated that the goal is to achieve a permanent democratic future for Pakistan.
“It has not been easy,” he said. “But nothing worth fighting for is easy. We long ago stopped thinking of doing what is easy.
“Instead, we have committed ourselves to doing what is right.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2012.
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Now Zardari is going to be elected the President of Pakistan again until 2018. Now he has garnered the support of a vast majority of Pakistan voters.
Good job.
Np.
@Umer: And the other half left would be women
Good speech
@Mard-e-Haq:
WoW the minister should be sacked and the controversial movie maker live as they are exempted of Hate Speech .. rite people like you are true disgrace for Muslims
Mr Zardari can start with controlling hate speech in Pakistan against Minorities!
We're proud of Asif li Zardari and he expressed the voice of whole nation in the right time.
Most of the speech was right but the thing is to whom this person was delivering this speech full of our country's concerns, sorrows and worries. It was looking totally inappropriate and awkward when one thinks about it that he was telling about whatever downtrodden state of our country to the exploiters and those who wanted all this to happen with us. UN is nothing more than an organisation and platform which legitimize the unlawful acts of its dominating and powerful members.
Most of the speech was right but the thing is to whom this person was delivering this speech full of our country's concerns, sorrows and worries. It was looking totally inappropriate and awkward when one thinks about it that he was telling about the down trodden state of our country to the exploiters and those who wanted all this to happen with us. UN is nothing more than an organisation and platform which legitimize the unlawful acts of its dominating and powerful members.
what you consider sacred does not mean that 2/3 of the rest of the world has to.
Isn't corruption anti-Islam?
Very rarely do we come across such speeches by a Pakistani, hats off Mr. President.
@Umer: Well put!!! perhaps he is not aware of its implications on Pakistan......
Its sad that even the President of Pakistan does not understand the stupidity of asking international community to make it a crime to offend muslims, esp doing it after Obama had already told them that this would be violation of their constitution.
Never thought I would ever say this but, Mr. President WELL DONE.
There are tens of other important issues to worry about in Pakistan and talk about in the UN but just to appease the religious right, this was his only contribution to the UN General Assembly? Now where are the PPP jiyalas and the IK haters who are always accusing PTI of appeasing the religious right? So what if this is the election year, doesn't mean the President starts humiliating a whole nation in front of the UN.
UN is a hopeless organization, nothing good has ever come out of it. It is one giant international circus, and each country does its act for their stakeholders back home.
Democracy is the best revenge. Sir Jee...
You don't need the UN when they want to visit Balochistan, but you need them to push your agenda of curbing Freedom of Expression?
Isn't there something terribly wrong with this?
The height of hypocrisy. How does Zardari term the call by the Railways Minister to murder an American citizen? And a bounty offer of $100,000? Isn't that hate speech as well? It would have been better if the minister was sacked but he is still holding on to his portfolio while Pakistan preaches about "hate speeches" at international fora like the UN.
i wish the guy could do his job as well as he gives his speeches
Noble speech. If only it was true.
Good. Charity begins at home.
Better. No "K" word thus far.
Best. Pakistani Muslims don't, and never will, understand free speech and peaceful protest, has been established through out the world including 130 heads of states attending the UN.
Does he know that would put half of Pakistan in jail?