Zardari criticises unilateral canal decision in Parliament, warns of pressure on federation

Opposition raised slogans and held up placards, disrupting the session as soon as the president began speaking.

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President Asif Ali Zardari delivered his eighth address to the Parliament as a joint session convened on Monday to mark the completion of the parliamentary year. Opposition lawmakers, particularly from PTI, raised slogans and held up placards, disrupting the session as soon as the president began speaking.

Despite the uproar, President Zardari remained composed, at times smiling at opposition benches while continuing his address. To counter the noise, he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used headphones.

As PTI lawmakers entered the House, they immediately began chanting slogans in favour of their party leader, Imran Khan, and pounded desks in protest. Opposition Leader Omar Ayub repeatedly slammed his fists on his desk to register his dissent.

In a lighter moment, Pervez Khattak mistakenly walked toward the opposition benches, heading toward his former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) colleagues, before realising his mistake.

The session saw the attendance of key political figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, and several federal ministers.

A large number of foreign diplomats also observed the proceedings from the guest gallery.

Zardari’s warning on federation under strain

During his address, President Zardari warned that certain unilateral policies of the government were placing “severe pressure” on the federation. He specifically criticised the decision to extract additional canals from the Indus River system without the consensus of all federating units.

“As the president of Pakistan, it is my constitutional duty to caution this House that some of your one-sided policies are straining the federation. The unilateral decision to extract further canals from the Indus River system, despite strong opposition from federating units, is concerning. I cannot support this proposal in my capacity as president,” Zardari stated.

He urged the government to abandon the existing plan and engage with all stakeholders to develop a sustainable and mutually agreed-upon solution.

Call for governance reforms and economic stability

Zardari emphasised the need for better governance, economic reforms, and job creation to address public grievances. “This House must focus on improving governance and political and economic stability. The people have placed their hopes in this parliament, and we must meet their expectations,” he said.

Calling for a fairer taxation system, he stressed that the burden should not disproportionately fall on salaried individuals but should be broadened to include all eligible taxpayers. He also pressed the government to provide genuine relief in the next budget by increasing salaries and pensions while reducing the cost of living.

Countering terrorism and addressing regional inequalities

The president also highlighted security concerns, warning that terrorism was resurfacing due to external support and funding. “Our security forces have sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism. We cannot allow militancy to rise again,” he asserted.

Zardari pointed out that the root causes of terrorism lay in deprivation and inequality. He called for prioritising the development of the most affected regions and creating employment opportunities to counter extremism.

A call for unity and consensus-building

President Zardari urged parliamentarians to work toward national unity and adopt a consensus-driven approach to decision-making. “We must think about unity and work towards empowering our people. National interest should be above political differences,” he said.

As the session concluded, opposition members continued their protests, while the government maintained that the address underscored the country’s key challenges and a roadmap to tackle them. The session was adjourned indefinitely following the president’s speech.