Ruling out election delay: Zardari promises peaceful transition

President urges Saarc states to fight terrorism, drug trafficking; meets Indian Lok Sabha speaker.

ISLAMABAD: Quelling rumours of a delay in the next parliamentary elections, President Asif Ali Zardari told an international audience that Pakistan will soon achieve a “peaceful democratic transition”.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 6th Conference of Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Speakers and Parliamentarians at the Presidency on Sunday, Zardari said the democratically-elected government was nearing the completion of its constitutional term.

“Soon we will achieve a peaceful democratic transition. We are well on our way to realising democracy’s dividends,” he added.

He said the incumbent government took some bold decisions to empower parliament. “For the first time an elected president surrendered his powers to parliament,” he said.

“Some people may feel that parliament is still under assault from some quarters. But these are the teething troubles of a genuine democratic transition. These are the dying kicks of an old order.”

Addressing the speakers and parliamentarians from Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, President Zardari said democracy was a prerequisite for economic development, political stability and overall peace and security.

He called upon the Saarc lawmakers to play a proactive role in forging better bilateral relations and addressing inter-state issues to ensure peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

Zardari said the South Asian region should adopt a collective approach to common challenges and explore opportunities for the benefit of its people. He assured that Pakistan was committed to the Saarc Charter and believed that durable peace in the   region was in the interest of all.

Terrorism and drug trafficking

President Zardari also sought support of SAARC member states against illegal drug trafficking and in the fight against terrorism and militancy.

“No country has suffered from it [terrorism and militancy] as much as Pakistan. We have lost over 40,000 lives and Rs80billion worth economy besides lost opportunities,” he said.

Heroin, the president added, was developed by the international community as a war weapon against the rival ideology in the region. “That weapon of war has still not been dismantled. Together we must dismantle this war weapon.”

After declaring the conference open, he asked the participants to particularly focus food security issues besides discussing regional socio-political and economic integration.

India in focus

After the ceremony, the president met with Meira Kumar, speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha at the Presidency.

According to presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, the president discussed Pak-India bilateral relations, promotion of Saarc role in various fields, increased contacts of parliamentarians and other regional issues. The president said Pakistan was committed to a constructive, sustained and result-oriented process of engagement with India and reiterated his call for the two countries to make determined efforts for friendly, cooperative and good neighbourly relations.

“Finding amicable and just solutions to all outstanding issues is important for Pakistan and India to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region,” President Zardari said.

He recalled his recent meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one on the sidelines of the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Tehran and in New Delhi during his visit to Ajmer Sharif. He said he was deeply touched by the warm hospitality extended to him at New Delhi and Ajmer Sharif.

Speaker of Lok Sabha then thanked him and said her country desired “good and friendly” relations with Pakistan and wanted to work together in coping with common challenges and issues.

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2012.