Pakistan

President Zardari rules out martial law

Zardari says the problems the country is currently faced with are too grave to inspire the military to such a move.

Express August 24, 2010

Dismissing the possibility of a military coup in Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the problems the country is currently faced with are too grave to inspire the military to such a move. “I don’t think anybody in his right mind will want to take this responsibility. It’s only democracy that can carry this yoke,” Zardari said in an interview with foreign journalists in Islamabad.

He said it will take at least three years to recover from the devastating floods that have engulfed one-fifth of the country and have affected more than 20 million people, Time Magazine reported. Zardari insisted that his government is capable of rising to the occasion. “Surely we will try and meet [expectations] as much as we can, and as far as we can. We will stretch the band-aid to the maximum.”

Throughout the interview, he cast his mind back to when the country was last plunged into a major crisis: the aftermath of the December 2007 assassination of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. “At the time, we said democracy is the best revenge,” Zardari said.

He also warned that militants in Pakistan are keen to exploit the situation in the wake of floods. He said Pakistan’s resolve to fight the militants has not wavered.

“I see always such organisations and such people taking advantage of this human crisis. It is again a challenge to not let them take advantage of this human crisis,” he said.

The president’s comments follow MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s controversial remarks on Sunday that his group will support “patriotic” generals if they take “any martial law-type action” against Pakistan’s corrupt politicians and feudal lords.

Regarding Hussain’s comments, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that the country has been confronting a number of challenges and the government does not wish to “indulge in any sort of confrontational politics”. (With additional input from ONLINE)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (10)

SadafFayyaz | 14 years ago | Reply So cute,,,,,

mussarat ahmedzeb swat | 14 years ago | Reply Honourable President you should say I AM THE BEST REVENGE all the nation including you don,t know the meaning of democracy.

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Kamran | 14 years ago | Reply Democracy is the best revenge to what? I don't understand how anyone buys that slogan mongering in our country. It's not tangible, it's an idea that has become the new euphemism for corruption, much like the word terrorism for the US. Pakistan cannot survive in a democratic form of rule because more than half the population is illiterate who are only concerned where their bread will come from at the end of the day. Democracy can only work, and does work, in developed nations. It's a lost cause in a country like Pakistan where votes can be bought, elections can be rigged and fake degrees can get you into parliament. As for Zardari's own agenda, might someone pose the question to him how he expects the entire nation to comprehend his views on democracy when it's non-existent within his own party? From father, to daughter, to daughter's husband to son very soon. Weird how irony works.

S Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Aslam-o-ALikum, I will only say that the solution of the one bad/passive democratically elected government is another good/active democratically elected government. Not the military rule! Think on these lines and we could have a real democracy in coming years and if we keep looking military, as the final solution than I would say, our direction is not right which ever way we are heading to.

B | 14 years ago | Reply Who is he kidding? Since when was democracy ever sure of military coups in Pakistan? =/

Ahmer Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Now-a-days in these the most critical democratic conditions martial law has been the time of the hour because nation is living from hand to mouth and our leaders are leading luxurious life in Islamabad.Now Pakistan Army must interfere in this corrupt leaders' created democratic system because our present leaders have been badly failed to maintain peace and security in the beloved Pakistan and more than 50% police is appointed on highly ranked key officials' security.Target killing is in its full swing in Karachi and innocent people are being killed brutally and mercilessly.In tribal areas innocent people especially children and wonem are being killed by American Drone attacks.I request COAS please play his the most important role to ensure common man security and to curtail the whole nation's problems by reducing prices essential life commodities especially electricity.

mehdi shahi | 14 years ago | Reply I too was against president and his corruption. people keep calling him names. it is a matter of surprise. no one on the face of earth has him proved corrupt.he became the PRESIDENT OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN, husband of slain mohtar...ma benazir bhutto, son in law sheed zulfiqar ali bhutto, and son of a rich wadera hakim ali zardari.and chairman PPP. Senator Faisal raza abedi said its all ZARDARI FOBIA. and zardari is not corrupt.previous govts could not proven him guilty in any case though he was imprisoned for years.then has been exonerated in many cases.it is said slow water runs deep.zardari is like that.the whole country calling him corrupt,boots are being through. people are abusing every where but he is just carrying his PPP and his post.

Murtaza Ali Jafri | 14 years ago | Reply Aw. how cute of him to say that it's not an option. Because obviously a military coup is always preceded by the soldiers asking permission.

yousaf | 14 years ago | Reply **I totally agree with my friend T Ali** enough is enough the Nation can not tolerate the present setup even for a minute for all what Mr. Ali has explained in detail.

T Ali | 14 years ago | Reply The people of Pakistan do not want their army to interfere in politics, but they also do not want their elected leaders to treat this country as their fiefdom. Democracy means rule of law, freedom of expression, transparency and investment in human resources and socio economic development. May I humbly ask what has this democratic government achieved on any of these fronts. Please don't talk of Benazir Fund, because that is not enough. What about the electricity shortages, lawlessness, target killings in Karachi, corruption scams, sugar cartels etc. It is time to deliver, not just talk or slogan mongering. The best way to strengthen democracy in Pakistan is to provide good governance.

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