ISLAMABAD: After administrating the oath to newly elected Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the presidency on Friday, President Asif Ali Zardari said that those wanting to detract democracy had been defeated thanks to the collected wisdom of the members of national assembly.
“The detractors of democracy have long been hounding the former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. They thought the coalition will not be able to agree to a new leader of the house, they thought the house would be sent packing and create political uncertainty. They have been proven wrong,” the President proudly declared.
“The collected wisdom of the elected national assembly has proven them wrong - I salute their wisdom,” Zardari beamed.
Solve energy crisis
With the clamour for solving the energy crisis growing day by day, Zardari, who has seen the Opposition parties feed off the public anger to knock on his party’s popularity just months before the general election, called on Pervez Ashraf to solve the crisis on priority basis.
“The problems of power shortage to be addressed on a priority basis.”
However, this was not the only area of concern, and Zardari went on to high light that “there are other issues of great concern to the common people. There are issues of inflation, unemployment and law and order.”
“I hope the new government headed by Raja Pervez Ashraf will address all these issues with zeal and determination.”
Federal, State ministers take oath
Twenty-seven Ministers and eleven Ministers of State also took oath.
The Federal Ministers who took oath included: Rana Farooq Saeed‚ Sardar Al-Haj Muhammad Umar Gorgage‚ Firdous Ashiq Awan‚ Hina Rabbani Khar‚ Samina Khalid Ghurki‚ Makhdoom Shahabuddin‚ Syed Naveed Qamar‚ Farzana Raja‚ Engineer Shaukatullah‚ Syed Khursheed Shah‚ Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani‚ Babar Khan Ghauri‚ Israrullah Zehri‚ Arbab Alamgir‚ Ghulam Ahmad Bilour‚ Qamar Zaman Kaira‚ Farooq H Naek‚ Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi‚ Makhdoom Amin Faheem‚ Abdul Hafeez Shaikh‚ Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar‚ Mian Manzoor Watto‚ Nazar Muhammad Gondal‚ Dr Farooq Sattar‚ Haji Khuda Bakhsh Rajar‚ Maula Bakhsh Chandio and Changez Jamali.
The Ministers of State who took oath are Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi‚ Chaudhary Imtiaz Safdar Warraich‚ Abbas Khan Afridi‚ Dost Muhammad Mazari‚ Saleem Haider Khan‚ Nawabzada Malik Ammad Khan‚ Moazzam Ali Jatoi‚ Malik Azmat Khan‚ Syed Samsam Ali Bukhari‚ Dr Nadeem Ahsan and Raheela Baloch.
The ceremony was attended by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza‚ Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari‚ Parliamentarians and high ranking officials including former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
COMMENTS (28)
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Land of the pure ‘conspiracies and denials’ at its best work.
I am not a zardari/ppp supporter but i have to admit he is way too clever than the other politicians (specially the 90days gyu). I wish he had channeled his cleverness in awam's benefit.
Followers of Zia are doing their dirty tricks for decades. This is not new for PPP. I don't think danger is over yet. Ziaists are very persistent and they are going to make more tries. They made Gilani a target because he refused to become another Farooq Lighari. Now that he is gone the target will shift to Zardari again. Zardari's passive resistance will ultimately defeat grudges-generals dirty games.
Just 89 votes for Mehtab Abbassi? Not a single vote from any other party. What a shame! What else you expect when you ridicule and undermine the parliament just to garner support from the PCO judges.
With Maulana Fazl ,Islam is always in danger ,with PPP and AAz it's democracy which is under constant threat.
@Falcon: Really appreciate the very civil feed back! However, Imran Khan has never condemned religious terrorism without pandering riders attached, mixes religion with politics, connives with the intelligence agencies against preogressive elements, is an accomplice to setting dangerous legal precedents against democracy, and reflects an arrogant attitude toward his opponents and ethnic minorities. He voted against repealing the Hudood Ordinance and collaborated with General Hamid Gul to overthrow Benazir Bhutto's elected government. How could such a person be head and shoulder above Raja Pervez Ashraf whose power rental baggage is relatively mediocre?
@logic europe: Really? Is this the democracy the whole world talks about? And winning elections for PML-N and/or PTI is unlikely??? I seriously don't know what Kool Aid you've been drinking but you really need to think rationally to analyze this situation. Unfortunately your comments are a mere shadow of the "attack on democracy" slogan that PPP has always been chanting whenever their corruption is revealed and they miss out on becoming political martyrs.
Mr. President, dont forget to thank collective wisdom of people who showed restraint and facilitated smooth transfer of power despite all out attack on parliamentary traditions. BBs assasination has definitely brought maturity and democratic mindedness for many but alas, she's not among us......
I give up Zardari... I think you will be back in power in next elections....Time to abandon ship...
What do thugs and crooks know about democracy!
@Imran Haider: What do you mean qualify? He is not corrupt at any level.
No Mr Zardari as we all know that he won't be able to solve any crisis. Thank you very much
In fact Swiss accounts have saved at cost of democracy....
Zardari you are unacceptable yourself. I would have dictatorship over you anyday.
Mr. President, you know as well as we all know, none of the problems identified will be solved. Raja Rental is not here to solve people's problem. This is result of a decision of Supreme Court, otherwise this change would not have happened.
Long live Zardari. Your ill wishers are destined to fail more badly.
A refresher course in what democracy entails is in order for the PPP politicians, esp. its top leadership. Democracy is not merely about nominal elections. Elections are necessary but not sufficient condition for a system to be called democratic. If you claim to be the people's representative, you have to demonstrate that the supreme criterion that guides your governance is the people, their security and prosperity and amelioration of their lot. and not only their economic lot, but also their security, and liberty. Under your illustrious regime, the people are left insecure, unfree, and serious drawdown in their economic levels, except for the corrupt and powerful few who are making hay while the sun shines!!! Indeed, the slogan you harbour--that democracy is the best revenge-- suits you well. The only thing you have not made clear is that this is a revenge you are exacting on the hapless, poor people of Pakistan by depriving them of their hard earned money and neglecting their security. Many suspect that it is the people who are the victim of you 'revenge!!
Mr. President... the PMs are not the problem, you are !
And I burst out laughing when I read the list of things Raja Rental is supposed to resolve.
The president children study abroad, goes himself to dubai for simple medical checkups, the horses of president eat JAMS and almonds. On the other hand people of pakistan have no electricity, gas, drinking water no money to study those educated have no Jobs. Mr president you own 1.5b$ plus. Democracy means your FAMILY will continue their perpetual rule. Ironically WORLD has accepted your definition of democracy.
This is democracy, trying to bring Nawaz or Imran khan by back door is not democracy Who wins elections rules and all people who are unhappy with this govt will have a chance to bring a PM of choice if they win election which is UNLIKELY
It's a very sad for Pakistanis. Now we have ministers that are in no way capable or eligible for their posts. The Quaid's soul will be deeply hurt today to see what these 'democratic' politicians are doing to his land. Just hoping that come election, these corrupt ppl are clean bold. Otherwise, the next 5 years for Pakistan are going to be way way more devastating for Pakistan and Pakistani people. Mr. Zardari, enjoy your govt looting while it lasts, this might be the last time this party won.
you are killing us
Detractors of democracy have failed: Zardari No Sir, you and these so called corrupt politicians (majority) have failed to provide democracy to Pakistan. Shame on all of you.
@Imran Haider: No offense, but even IK's worst political opponents would agree (at least in private) that he is head and shoulders above the current nominee Raja Sahab.
Mr. President, this is no democracy, its a sham democracy. Let us see how many days Raja Rental who is there to serve his master (ie you Mr. President) and not to serve people of Pakistan, will survive. I am sure, more then 60% of Pakistanies does not want this so called democracy, which is nothing but a joke in the name of democracy. May Allah help Pakistan, Amen.
Mr. President, the problem with nominating Raja Pervez Ashraf as the next Prime Minster of Pakistan is that you have reduced the acceptance threshold down to the level that even Imran Khan would qualify for Prime Ministership.
This is Not Democracy by any Standards. This Hypocrisy by all Standards. And of course this is your best revenge.
No Sir!! With your current actions, You have failed democracy in this country.