President Asif Ali Zardari said that leaving office is not an option and no one has asked him to resign, responding to speculation that the military wanted his departure.
“No one has asked for it yet. If someone does, I’ll tell you,” Zardari, who appeared cheerful after having undergone medical treatment in Dubai last month, said in a television interview.
On the question of Haqqani meeting Mansoor Ijaz, Zardari said that he did not ask Haqqani about it.
The memo issue has been given undue publicity, Zardai asserted.
When asked about which decision he would accept if the court and the parliamentary committee made opposite verdicts, he made it clear that the parliament was sovereign and he will back its decision.
Regarding the prime minister’s statement in parliament that he did not want a ‘state within a state’ Zardari highlighted that the premier was all-powerful and he took a firm stance on the issue accordingly.
The president made it clear that his government was not ‘at war’ with the army and judiciary over the Memogate case.
“We are not at war with the court and we are not at war with the military,” he stressed.
“You think it is a clash, but I say it is part of an evolutionary process. This clash will evolve and then simmer down.”
Tensions between the army and civilian government soared over the memo, allegedly delivered to then US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in May and made public by Mansoor Ijaz in October.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (34)
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Tough questions, but very sensible and statesman-like interview. Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan can never pull such an interview. The latter's entire politics revolves around hatred, character assassination, and bigotry. Whenever they talk, they sound bitter.
Well done Mr. President.
It was a poor interview by Hamid Mir. Instead of asking questions on a few key points, Baluchistan, Economy, Foreign Policy being top 3 issues, he asked questions on so many issues, took AZ's one liners as 'answers'. Thoroughly disappointed.
Game, set & match to AAZ, well done
For the sake of democracy in Pakistan, we have to tolerate the President unless he is removed through Democratic process, we cannot fustrate ourselves and ruin the fragile democracy, we should not provide excuses to undemocratic forces to take charge of the Nation.
@Basit Ali: I agree with you on that. Nominally or pragmatically, he has transferred rights to the provinces constitutionally. APC was not a coincidence, too.
we have the same whole lot of corrupt & dishonest politicians in the line waiting for their turn.
@Patriotic: We are not living in an 'ideal-world' in Pakistan. I wish we were! A country where count of bogus votes is as high as approx 3 crores out of 5 crores regd votes, even if people did not want to elect Zardari and his party they could not have done so. Mathematically if the equation between actual and bogus votes remains as it exists today, another Zardari must be hedging his bets already! My remarks notwithstanding, we should take this business seriously and must go out and vote in forthcoming elections if we do not want to 'cry over spilled milk' yet again........
I am glad that he is fine, now. I do appreciate him because his government has been shown to many disastrous consequences of natural and political cyclones in the world, he had to be taking very decisions on grave issues.
Despising him has many justifications, but not despising him are enumerated one. I do not despise him knowing the bloodshed in the Pakistani political history. I would not mind if his government persists, provided there is not government which is backed by the intelligent agencies of Pakistan. I am proud to be protected by our Pakistani army and our ISI, but there must be a demarcation between civil and military institutions.
I agree with Mohammad Ali Siddiqui. President Zardari is the only politician who have involved everyone into the national stream. He joined hands with MQM, ANP, JUI(F), PMLQ and always welcomed even to PMLN. Before him there was no such instance of being together for the betterment of Pakistan. God bless him.
@Naeem Hussain, Overcautious, Yawar Ali:
Replying to your queries where hundreds of thousands people are standing behind President Asif Ali Zardari, I would like to elaborate here that there are hundred and thousands of people in Pakistan who want to see that democratic process should continue and remain in Pakistan.
My dear friends’ democratic process is evolved through consensus and consensus is a part of political process, which cannot be developed by standing behind a military dictator, who dictates his own terms by saying “Pakistan First”.
Kindly read the news published today on the front page of The News International in border lines in which General Musharraf’s bank account numbers and the amount that is being maintained in the foreign banks are published.
How can General Musharraf say: “Pakistan First” when his and his wife’s bank accounts and the amount deposited in these bank accounts speak itself that “Musharraf First”.
What worse can you expect from a president who does not believe the courts?
@Patriotic
You seem to be delusional. No educated and sane Pakistani wanted Zardari in power. Our democratic system is corrupt to the core. It's amazing how conveniently you've forgotten about the bogus entries in the ECP registry.
Plus it also speaks volumes about the flaws of democracy. The majority (in Pakistan's case, the uneducated and subjugated masses) win and don't take into consideration the minority (the educated and knowledgeable people of Pakistan).
@HoneyBee.......No angels are ruling any where in the world,but,still we have very many honest politicians in Pakistan who can deliver. Just wait & see!!
@naeem hussain: @Overcautious: @K. Salim Jahangir: @yawar ali: @hunain: Dear Sir: Where on earth You bring ANGELS to rule the PAKISTAN. . . ????
The President of Pakistan is much smarter and shrewed than people's and critics poor opinion about him. He has successfully withstood tsunami of hurdles till date and would complete his term.
@Paki-Australian: It is a minority government that certainly does not need to complete its term. As a resident of Australia you should be aware of that!
@Mirza: "The people of Pakistan are smart and not dumb like many think"
Considering that less than 50% are literate (able to read or write in any language), I would highly doubt that statement. And since they're so 'smart' this is why we have traditions like honour killings, karo kari and wata satta.
Any self respecting person in his place would have stepped down long time back,but as they say, " Mard-e-nadaa'n per klam-e narm-o-nazuq beassar."
He is turning into joker... According to him all the instituitions including PIA and railway are working fine... LMFAO!
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: thats insane! to post a comment like that, what world do you live in???
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: i have mistakenly liked your post... i am really curious to know where do these hundreds of thousand people live in Pakistan who are suppoting Zardari saab ?
Not shrewd but cunning.@Jp:
Where are those people who stand behind him people of Pakistan want to see?@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
@Jp: Saw the pathetic interview.. No straight answer from the President.
Let complete PPP its tenure because till now all political parties have been deceiving and fooling the whole nation on the name of welfare and betterment claims verbally and when the time of action comes all political parties' leaders show extreme level's hypocrisy and rejoin their hands.No one is sincere and honest truly and practically for Pakistan and its nation.
Relly matured interview. Zardari has now become a shrewd politician
Hundreds of thousands of people are standing behind President Asif Ali Zardari, the savior of democratic process in Pakistan.
May Al-Mighty Allah be with him. Ameen
Brothers and Sisters: please take a logical unbiased look the presidents statement!
Our elected representatives should not be kicked out earlier than scheduled. Zardari is unpopular, the democratic way to out him would be to vote a different party into office at the next elections. I agree that constitutionally elected Govt must complete its term.
Democracy must prevail!
May God protect Pakistan from dynasties.
No wonder Zardari's opponents hate him. The more they intimidate him the more he plays calm and cool. He should continue to remain cheerful and not angry. Let the people of Pakistan decide who is right and who is wrong. People of Pakistan are smart and not dumb like many think.
I think that it's good that he isn't leaving office. Look at the silver lining: We Pakistanis, as a nation, might finally learn our long awaited lesson of accepting the fact that whatever happens in the political arena happens because of who we voted for. The PPP didn't seize power; we enabled them to become our government. Instead of looking for the easy way out (hoping that the government just collapses or resigns), we must learn to accept that regardless of how incompetent or corrupt it is, we are to be blamed because we voted for them. Instead of just aimlessly shouting "Go Zardari Go", vote for better people next time. And learn your lesson! Peace!