Senator Sherry Rehman, the Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has emphasised the importance of mutual respect and collaboration among political parties to foster a conducive environment for the country’s progress. She echoed President Asif Ali Zardari’s invitation to all political parties for a fresh start, urging collective action to move past bitterness and division.
The Senator kicked off the debate in the Senate on the president’s speech, commending President Zardari’s address to the joint sitting of the Parliament marking the commencement of the parliamentary year following the Feb 8 elections.
In her remarks, she reiterated the president’s message of turning a new page in history to address national challenges effectively and said, “We all should welcome President Zardari’s address to the joint session of Parliament, where he called on all political leaders to turn a new page, hold dialogue and aim for a much needed a political reset. His stress on political dialogue, unity and an end to polarisation for the country’s sake is the only way forward in these challenging circumstances.”
She further said it is important to remember why we are in parliament, which is not to score political points but what the president said is to turn a new page to overcome national and critical economic and social challenges.
Reflecting on the legacy and resilience of the PPP leadership, Sherry said, “I am proud to say that the PPP has never degraded the dignity of the country and the state. After the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto faced severe hardships yet she never created problems for the country and the people. Zardari was in jail for 14 years. Yet, Asif Ali Zardari never took political revenge from anyone and there was no political prisoner in his previous tenure.”
The Senator emphasised the importance of mutual respect and collaboration among political parties to foster a conducive environment for the country’s progress. She echoed Zardari’s invitation to all political parties for a fresh start, urging collective action to move past bitterness and division.
“President Zardari invited all the political parties for the new beginning, he believes we can reset the political atmosphere to reflect more light than heat if we want to, but it will need all of us to step back and decide what matters the most, and he meant all of us. We don’t want bitterness and differences. We have to respect each other for a true new beginning. It is in this house that we can build the future of the country. We want an end to the politics of recriminations and accusations and hatred because it does not help the people of this country who are looking to us to at least make a start to solve their daily problems,” she maintained.
Sherry cautioned against the politics of hatred and animosity and called upon all stakeholders to heed the president’s call for a new legacy based on unity and cooperation for a brighter Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2024.
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