PPP quashes rumours of Zardari's ouster

Bukhari says system can't run sans president

ISLAMABAD:

The PPP had to finally issue a statement to put to rest speculations about possible removal of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also co-chairman of the party

Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, the PPP-Parliamentarians secretary general, on Tuesday clarified that there is no truth to the rumors circulating on social media regarding President Zardari.

"Those making such speculations have no understanding of the Constitution or the law. Zardari is the duly elected president of this country and this system cannot function without him," he added.

It all started with a couple of journalists "revealing" on social media that a plan was underway to remove Zardari, whose party did not become a part of the coalition government after the Feb 8 general elections but supported it after securing constitutional positions including that of the president.

On June 5, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also dismissed the "rumours", stating that some people were uncomfortable because politicians, the government and the military stand united.

"For the first time, politicians, the government and the military establishment are on the same page, and that bothers certain individuals. These people are spreading such stories," Naqvi, who does not belong to any of the ruling parties but is regarded close to Zardari, added.

The PPP secretary general claimed that even the government could not function without the support of the PPP and that those spreading such rumors aimed to destabilize the country.

He stated that removing a PM or a CM through a vote of no confidence does not destabilize the system.

"It is unconstitutional methods or protest-based strategies that destabilize the system. If a no-confidence motion caused instability, it wouldn't have been included in the Constitution," he added.

PPPP's central spokesperson Shazia Marri also emphasized that President Zardari and the PPP have a consistent track record of facing challenges head-on. "The PPP and President Zardari have proven that we never abandon the field," she said.

Marri stated, "history is witness that President Zardari faced dictatorship and imprisonment, but never backed down."

She added that the party maintains good relations with its coalition partners and pointed out that any change in the presidency would require a two-thirds majority across all four provincial assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate, saying this makes such speculation unfounded.

Marri also credited President Zardari with historic democratic reforms, saying he is the only politician in Pakistan who transferred presidential powers to the Parliament.

"When the country was in crisis, it was President Zardari who raised the slogan of 'Pakistan Khappay' [Pakistan needed]," she said, referring to a time of national uncertainty following the assassination of his wife & slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.

In a separate statement, PML-N's Senator Irfan Siddiqui had also confirmed that there was no proposal under consideration at any level to replace President Zardari. "President Zardari is performing his duties as the constitutional head of state commendably," he said.