Express News screengrab of President Mamnoon Hussain addressing the joint session.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, members of the federal cabinet and parliament, chief ministers, governors and the prime minister of Azad Kashmir as well as the chiefs of the three armed forces including Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee attended the joint session of the parliament. Ambassadors, diplomats, members of civil society and important personalities from different segments of life also attended the session.
Hussain said that protection of the religious places of minorities is the responsibility of the government, adding that the government will do everything it can to protect their right to religious freedom.
"The role of minorities for the progress of the country was commendable," Hussain stated.
Democracy
The president remarked that the parliament has played an important role for democracy to be prevalent in the country.
Describing the meaning of democracy, Hussain stated that it does not mean confrontation and revenge but instead embodied patience, cooperation, tolerance and reconciliation.
"Democracy and supremacy of the Constitution are the present and future of the country."
Relationships with neighbours
President Hussain also stated that Pakistan wants better relations with its neighbours.
He mentioned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signified that "Pakistan was ready for improved relations with India."
Speaking about Nawaz's tour to Iran, the president said that it was successful and showed that Pakistan was working towards having a stable relationship with Iran.
"In real terms, the Chinese and Pakistanis are one soul in two bodies," speaking positively about the Pak-China friendship.
Economic progress
Commenting on some of the measures taken by the government for economic progress, the president remarked that "the success of Eurobonds, GSP Plus status given by the European Parliament, increase in the Gross National Product, constant decrease in the budget deficit and rise in textile export were commendable."
Speaking about the steps taken to resolve the energy crisis, Hussain stated that 1700 megawatts (MW) have been added to the national grid by the government since it came to power and so far 19 power projects, which will produce 24,870MW of electricity, have been started.
Boycott
Members of opposition parties boycotted the joint session. During a meeting of members of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan National Party Awami and Awami National Party (ANP) - headed by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan - it was unanimously decided that they will be not be attending the joint session.
Security was beefed up in the Red Zone to avoid any untoward situation and apart from members of the National Assembly and the Senate, only those people with special invitation were allowed to enter the Parliament.
The president’s speech was delivered in Urdu and discussed his government’s performance over the last year while outlining policy guidelines for the subsequent year, according to a PML-N member. The speech is mandatory under Article 56 of the Constitution.
President Hussain’s predecessor Asif Ali Zardari addressed the joint session of parliament a record six times during his tenure, while his predecessor General (retired) Pervez Musharraf made the address once during his tenure of eight years and 10 months.
COMMENTS (43)
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@BruteForce: "Incorrect. He said that, but his actions indicate it otherwise. "
When it came to addressing the people in charge of framing the constitution, his speech makes it abundantly clear which direction he wanted Pakistan to go in... regardless of what populist rhetoric he adopted in not so important settings...
here is the speech... it speaks for itself regardless of what detractors of a secular Pakistan might say...
http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/legislation/constituentaddress11aug1947.html
and sir that's the difference between rulers and leaders: rulers have viewpoint, leaders have. vision. Thanks for reinforcing our belief that these rulers like earlier ones are just rulers, captive of their personal and family interests
@David Salmon:
"Because Modi sat on his hands, and restrained the police, for nearly three days before ordering them to halt the riots."
SIT found no evidence to suggest this and has let him off. But, its hard to remove doubts from people's mind. People tend to believe in what is convenient. Why not believe SIT?
"But Jinnah’s role in these things is unclear to me. "
Jinnah was the Muslim League's President. He was all powerful and the Muslim League distributed Pamphlets in the Mosques of Calcutta, calling for "Jehad".
You can read the manifesto here..
http://www.leics.gov.uk/directactioncalcutta46.pdf
A manifesto would have not been approved without Jinnah's approval.
British had already said 'Yes' to Jinnah's demand. Remember Cabinet Mission Plan?
Jinnah called Direct Action day to wage Jihad against the people who were standing in his way. He was careful to call for Direct Action day in a province where Hindus were in a minority. Not many British died, but thousands of Indians died in the riots.
Which is worse? Modi, who did not start Godra or post-Godra riots, but has gone through an investigation; Or, Jinnah, who has never been questioned for the bloodbath?
@BruteForce: Because Modi sat on his hands, and restrained the police, for nearly three days before ordering them to halt the riots. Indeed, some of his immediate group instituted some. It was not until Advani, the Home Minister, told Modi he would have to intervene if nothing was done that Modi acted. I take this as deliberate complicity in mass murder. The Muslim League's Direct Action Day was intended to provoke "action," and the riots were predictable. It was an incendiary act intended to convince the British that they must give in to the demand for Pakistan, else there would be great violence. They bear responsibility for those who died. But Jinnah's role in these things is unclear to me. My sense is that he kept some distance between himself and the PML he headed. If there is a good biography fairly addressing this issue, please let me know.
@Ali: Please do not get confused that Indian courts are the same as Pakistan's. NO court has given him a guilty verdict for the misfortune incident. Go have a peace pipe.
@Rex Minor: @someone: Rex minor is correct and he reflects the inner mindset of most fair skinned Pakistanis, mainly punjabis and tribals. Converts to islam are always looked down upon. So many young hindu and christian girls are forcefully converted by rape. Where do they all end up. Within 4-5 months of their marriage to the muslim, the muslim man divorces her, the muslim family throws her out and she is sold off as sex slave to another or ends up in heera mundi. Have you heard of even one girl a few months after her conversion? Christian converts are called "chooris" by muslims even after their conversion. We read it here in ET itself. Mohajirs are not not considered as equal muslims as they are dark skinned and Pakistanis from East Pakistan were never considered as equal muslims, neither before they parted with Pakistan or even today. When Mouland Fazlur Rehman said that Imran Khan's ex wife was a Jew who converted to Islam Imran Khan got really mad and said that his ex wife was a christian converted to Islam.
Most arabs view Pakistani muslims, for that matter even dark skinned sudanese muslims or muslims of many other countries the same way. They do the same to Lebanese and Palestinians also though outwardly they say they support the Palestine cause.
When we were in Bahrain in the 80's we had a Bahreini Arab family living in the 1st floor of our building. We were living in the 2nd floor. A girl from the Bahreini arab family was in love with a Pakistani muslim boy. The Pakistani boy was born and brought up in Bahrain and, I guess their family had been living in Bahrain for 3 generations. His father was working in the police dept. The boy was a good, decent boy and the girls family also wanted the girl to be married to the boy. But still, they had to get the Amir's permission and Baherini Citizenship and it all depended on the Amir of Bahrein. Though the boy and girl were in love and both families had also accepted their relationship, still the boy was not allowed into the home of the girl. The boy would meet her at the staircase and talk to each other for hours. The girl would bring snacks and tea to the boy from her home. Even her family would be passing by on the staircase and at times talk to the boy also. But still the boy was not allowed in her home as they have to wait for the Amir to sanction their relationship. It was a pleasant sight for all of us in the building to see the decent young couple, affectionate and in true love. Till we left Bahrain, the boy could not find entry to her home. Hope that they are now married and having a wonderful life.
@ali you are delusional attacks have been taken place daily on Hindu temples, Sikhs place of worship,ahmedis etc in pakistan. come out of your bubble. About modi, courts demand proof not fabricated allegations. as such there no one such proof. Repeating lies again and again won't make it truth. "India is secular country,where everyone has equal rights" yes india is secular country. Muslims are allowed to follow Muslim board laws according to shariah, given quotas, and govt pays for their hajj and madrasaa education when even Hindus don't get them in our country. Do you pay that for your minority? Or their religious visit? Indian constitution is secular and under law all are equal nobody has been given extra right or less. Religious hatred against any religion, outlawing caste system are framed under the constitution anyone doing otherwise having ample proof to prove it is jailed under indian penal code. Can you say that for your minority who have yet to receive cremating rights,marriage certificate, right of ahemdisto practise fath under law etc? Can a non Muslim become president, PM army head etc like india were people of all faiths have held post?
@Ali:
If Jinnah after calling for Direct Action against Hindus, where 5000 died in riots, in Muslim majority Bengal, is not a mass murderer, why is Modi considered one?
@Anshuman Patras
Peoples faiths is not any business of the State in a democracy. It would seem to me as an observer that Pakistani laws are discriminatory and do not reflect the values of Islam which is based on Egalitarianism. It is realy a shame to watch what has become of the people in this part of the world. They could have been a beacon of hope for the non believers in Asia. Then this guy talks about the soul of muslims with that of the communist nonbelievers Chinese, he is reading from a paper that some incompup wrote for him.
Rex Minor
@rohit950723: Less funnier than the joke that "India is a secular country, where everyone has equal rights"
@Anshuman Patra: I don't understand why you Indians even commenting on this? U people elected a mass murderer of minorities and you are concerned about minorities in Pakistan? Never have the minorities been systematically been butchered in Pakistan by the state, nor the worship places of Hindus, Christians and Sikhs have been demolished as a public display.
The Mum Noon has spoken finally, the speech or eulogy written by PMLN itself. Guess why he was picked by the Nawaz, to keep 'mum' on any wrong doing by the 'noon'.
Jinnah did not pass the Objectives resolution on the books that made non-Muslims less equal, nor de-legitimized a community that considers itself Muslim with a required oath to the State declaring them non-Muslim on Pakistani passports, and would not have supported or tolerated sectarian extremists that roam around freely and target people of Jinnah's own background sect.
If the vision of the founder and viewpoint of this govt were the same, these issues of rights and discrimination would have been addressed or made priority. The viewpoint is restricted to police protection and freedom of most 'accepted' practices under current laws.
Non-muslims have rights in Pakistan.. What a cruel joke dude..
@Intisar: He is a stranger :)
@Rex Minor:
There are no more minorities in Pakistan...you are right there....after the Hindus, Sikhs, Chritsians are finished off, there will be muslims and better muslims...And then you can kill each other to the finish....
There was nothing offensive or impolite in my comments.
Why you did not Publish them ?
As usual, you still want to hide the truth from masses ?
Please, publish my comments if you want to hear how the minorities feel they are being treated under the PMLN government.
I have a feeling, dishonest Media will not Publish. Prove me wrong, by publishing my previous comments.
@Rex Minor: The whole Pakistan is made of people whose ancestor were converts at some point of time. It is pity to see how you referred to him as "convert". Seems like if some one does not have an Arab in his bloodline, is not Muslim enough in Pakistan. Sad.
Dear Mr. President,
Can you think of appointing an Ahmadi as Foreign Minister? Quaid Did....
Mr. President, *Did Quaid consider Ahmadi as Non-Muslim? Please read your law which state that Non-Muslim can not be head of any constitutional post, Army, Navy or Air force chief. Why this hypocrisy? ET these are valid question please publish this.*
This boneless cha cha is our president .... unbelievable !!!
@Dajjal:
"Jinnah’s view was that all citizens of Pakistan have equal rights and that religion is not the business of the state."
Incorrect. He said that, but his actions indicate it otherwise. Also, he has mentioned how Sharia should be the basis for the Constitution.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/484417/as-nation-remembers-jinnah-speakers-fear-his-legacy-has-been-forgotten/
This is in violation of Secularism you imply Jinnah wanted. His actions too indicate I am right.
Very hollow speech, nothing concrete.
Actions speak louder than words.
"“In real terms, the Chinese and Pakistanis are one soul in two bodies,”
Just wow.... the chinese will become diabetic on the sugar coating...
As per speach of Honourable President: "PAKISTAN IS SHINING" all over the world. Mubarak ho....Mubarak ho .....Mubarak.................
See the good side Pakistanis. we have a democracy , an institution and it works.
Take steps to remove the misconceptions, intolerance and hate breeding clerics and you have perfect model for human rights in Islam itself for our pro-religious society all along. This is our problem, instead of fixing what we have, we go looking elsewhere for alternative ..
Who is this poor man and which govt is he talkin about?
@Bilal Ghafoor: Do you want them to follow the Ruling Party like slaves? oops... I am sorry, I forgot that you belong to the same slave clan... keep following blindly dude, you will reach your destiny :-)
1700 megawatt added to national grid??????????????? Baray Miyaan its only 95 mega watt which is added, which is on furnace oil, what use when you have to use the furnace oil, why they have closed down the plants which run on furnace oil and can produce 5000 Mega watt?
This is democracy FOR THE FEW, BY THE FEW, IN THE NAME OF THE MANY...........so its a sham.
"Govt viewpoint on minorities is same as Quaid-e-Azam's vision: Mamnoon Hussain"
Jinnah's view was that all citizens of Pakistan have equal rights and that religion is not the business of the state. Doesn't that vision preclude the need to divide people into groups, call them minorities and discriminate against them? Pakistan's vision on Minorities is the exact opposite of Jinnah's view...
Our President has no effect on the lives of 200 Million Pakistani People. He is just their for Nawaz Sharif and to protect the Noon League The circumstances as they are across this land of unfortunate , who ever is at the helm of the affairs the nation would keep on suffering
This guy has gone crackers talking about minorities in Pakistan. He is a convert and following the Indian democracy of caste divide. There are no minorities in a democracy SIR, MR President; all citizens having equal rights and eliminatin of discriminatory legislations. And please do not speak about peoples souls, this is very personal and not any business of Sharif Khan
Rex Minor
so sad
One year on and not a single piece of legislation passed. Who cares if this person addresses the expensive set up.
The prime minister would also follow his usual routine by boycotting this session also
Shame for opposition parties for doing politics of agitation.
Hey the guy in the pic looks familiar, I think he happens to be our president.