Time to restore true democracy in country: Zardari

Former president says APC should have taken place long time ago

PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

Former president Asif Ali Zardari while delivering the opening address at the opposition’s all parties conference on Sunday said the grand huddle should have taken place a long time ago and now it was time to take action so that “true” democracy could be restored in the country.

Participating in the APC via video link, the PPP co-chairman, whose party hosted the event, hit out at the government for “trying to suppress the opposition parties and media”.

He expresses his gratitude to former premier Nawaz Sharif for attending the conference via video link and asked the participants of the event for pray for his health.

Zardari, who has been granted bail on medical grounds similar to the case of Sharif, also welcomed the PML-N supreme leader’s daughter and party vice president Maryam Nawaz to the huddle.

The former president said he knew about the difficulties being faced by Maryam and understood what she was going through. "My own sister has gone to jail as well as my wife," he added.

“We pay tribute to you [Maryam]. We will stand by you and continue fighting for your cause and I am sure you will keep fighting for ours.”

The PPP co-chairman asked all the parties participating in the conference to devise a strategy for sustainable democracy.

He added that the opposition would send the government packing so that true democracy could be restored in the country.

The former president maintained that the 18th Amendment, which had devolved power to the provinces, was like a wall protecting the Constitution and nobody would be allowed to roll it back.

Speaking on press freedom, Zardari said he had never seen so much censorship in the country and this reflected the government’s weakness.

“The voices emerging from the media won’t be suppressed.”

The PPP co-chairman said the opposition parties had united to save democracy in the country and with the help of the media, they would achieve their goal.

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