File photo of President Zardari in front of Benazir Bhutto's portrait. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: I’m confident that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will rise up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan, said President Asif Ali Zardari during his historic sixth address to the joint session of the parliament on Monday.
He became the first elected President of Pakistan who addressed both the houses six times.
While congratulating the newly-elected prime minister and lawmakers, Zardari said there is no place for dictators in today’s Pakistan.
He said that violation of the constitution is unlawful and no court should validate it.
Recalling his first address as president five years ago, Zardari said he asked the parliament to make itself strong and take away the unnecessary powers from the president.
He stressed that “we can achieve a lot if we can keep our prejudices and egos aside.”
Speaking of women and minorities, the president said that they are the most vulnerable segments of the society and the state must protect them.
He added that the government should ensure that blasphemy law is not misused for personal gains.
Admitting that dialogue can alone ensure peace, Zardari, however, added that we should be ready to make peace with those who are willing to give up violence but we should also be willing to use force against those who challenge the country.
Condemning drone strikes, Zardari said the unmanned aircraft violate the country’s sovereignty, are counterproductive and unacceptable.
“Pakistan’s sovereignty must be protected at all cost and it will be,” he asserted.
The session was attended by foreign dignitaries, diplomats, politicians and senior civil servants.
Special personnel were deployed for security while those with special passes only entered the premises.
Sources had earlier told the correspondent that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will protest in the parliament against drone strikes.
COMMENTS (27)
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Honourable President:
Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan and his PML(N) will deliver more than your expectations what PPP could not deliver during the long 5 years of PPP's rule.
It’s a tightrope that the PML-N will have to walk on. And that is where the danger lies. The national challenges like mending the economy or tackling the energy crisis requires deep structural reforms. The PML-N does not seem to carry the political will necessary to undertake those reforms. The party still relies largely upon the local patronage based strongmen-type of politics, combined with the personal appeal of its leader, Nawaz Sharif. Such political structures are not built or suited to bring about deep changes. And since the PML-N has not mobilised the masses along the theme of change or any specific issues, it will be reluctant to undertake any reform that might offend its support base. For example, Mr Sharif will find it difficult to enforce measures to raise the tax to GDP ratio as it will offend the traders’ community, his traditional ally. Same goes for agriculture; his powerful landholding allies in the rural areas will resist any move to tax or reform this sector that suffers from not only low tax collections but also incredibly low yields. Pakistan cannot move towards a high-growth trajectory without removing the bottlenecks from its largely agrarian economic base.
It is Zardari turn to defend his buddy now.
What a great speech by the president. While, leaders of two bigger political parties transitioning to statesmen, at least we have Ik to keep the ugliness alive in politics.
@Azmat Ali: Thank you bhai for correcting me. Alas that is not my constiuency.
@saima siddiqi: Just FYI PMLN won one National Assembly seat NA258 and 2 provisional assembly seats from Karachi.
@Mona Qureshi: Ya'll haven't seen my hubby crying. It ain't a pretty sight sister!
@saima; too bad in this day and age women are still unable to stand on principle.Crying or not I would not have swayed in my decision!
Zardari created history by addressing the joint session of the Parliament for the sixth time. Wish he had one more chance. It would have become "Saath Khoon Maaf".
@Adnan Siddiqi: My husband made me vote for NS. He started crying when I said I was thinking about voting for PTI. Not sure if you are married, but if you are you know no wife can bear to see her husband crying, so I voted as he wanted me to. Not that it mattered, PMLN didn't win anything in Karachi.
@Aamir Laghari: It is the job of the opposition to talk on issues and that is needed.
He has become 1st elected president of pakistan who has adressed parliament for the sixth time ....n never addressed the nation even for once :)
"I’m confident Nawaz will rise up to expectations: Zardari" yes, just like you provided the roti kapra makaan in your 5 years
Zardari can never become anything of importance in future govt.s.Thats for sure.
@saima siddiqi:
Lolzzzz.....I thought you was an IK lover! I wouldn't believe for a million years that you would vote for NS. ;)
Excellent Speech by President Zardari!
Asif Zardari has done his sixth and final address in parliament as president. Good that he also has hope that PML-N government under Nawaz Sharif will do good for Pakistan.
Anyone would do better than ppp...they have loweredthe bar so much that its impossible to go lower than that...
The losers of the elections and the winners both must understand that it is the choice of the electorate and they have spoken loud and clear. By denial the facts cannot change. It is Allah and only Allah who gives great honor or dishonor and nobody else. History would always call a dictator a dictator and popularly elected as the genuine democrat. No person with any self-respect would want to be called a totalitarian or dictator.
Talk talk and talk and when its time to act for the masses they'll have their tails between their legs and heads in the sand!
My whole family voted for mian sahib, just because he said he is against drones and if elected he will not tolerate drones (Press conference 7th March). Mian Sahib defnintely talked the talk, hope he now also walks the walk.
So basically the President wants the current government to do everything that his government couldnt.
PTI just need issue to talk against government.
Before going ahead with its rank amateurish protests, PTI can walk the walk and talk the talk by cutting off the NATO supply lines which pass through KPK.
What kind of history? I would rather call a history, if he would have boosted Pakistan economy, and at least brought peace to Pakistan.
Will be exciting! Since Mian Sahib has said he is against drones, will be interesting to see how he reacts. Will he support PTI protest against the president on this matter of principle, or will he support his best friend Zardari?
Protest is much appreciated but it should be civilized, no slogans or hooliganism..
Just walk out of the house in a civilised manner once the address commences