State has not failed in Karachi, says Zardari
President says nothing could harm a democratic Pakistan.
MALAKWAL:
President Asif Ali Zardari has rubbished talk of the state’s failure in maintaining law and order in Karachi, saying that anti-democracy elements were attempting to destabilise the country.
Karachi has been rocked by another wave of political and sectarian violence over the week. Nearly 50 people have been killed, raising serious questions about the Sindh government’s ability to restore order in the financial capital of the country.
The government has come under scathing criticism from the opposition as well as allies in both houses of parliament.
“If someone thinks of destabilising Pakistan, he has a wrong insight,” the president said, adding that the country, whose power rests with its people, could not be weakened.
Addressing an Eid Milan event hosted by the Pakistan Peoples Party in Malakwal city of Mandi Bahauddin district, Zardari delivered the first half of his speech in Punjabi – a gesture which was greeted by the audience with rapturous applause.
Describing democracy as the only way forward towards progress and prosperity, the president urged all political parties to work to strengthen democracy. He also assured that the next general elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The president warned that democracy in Pakistan still had some shortcomings – but stressed that there was a need to rectify the problems with a collective political vision.
About the main opposition party, the president said even though the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had parted ways with the PPP, it did not mean the two parties had become enemies. Referring to the Supreme Court verdict in the Asghar Khan case petition, President Zardari said Benazir Bhutto had been vindicated by the decision as it had rightly pointed that the results of the general election were snatched from her.
“I want that the child of a poor enjoy the same rights as the child of an industrialist,” he said, adding that the he had the desire that every child in the country enjoy his rights with equality. President Zardari earlier unveiled several development projects for Mandi Bahauddin district.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2012.
President Asif Ali Zardari has rubbished talk of the state’s failure in maintaining law and order in Karachi, saying that anti-democracy elements were attempting to destabilise the country.
Karachi has been rocked by another wave of political and sectarian violence over the week. Nearly 50 people have been killed, raising serious questions about the Sindh government’s ability to restore order in the financial capital of the country.
The government has come under scathing criticism from the opposition as well as allies in both houses of parliament.
“If someone thinks of destabilising Pakistan, he has a wrong insight,” the president said, adding that the country, whose power rests with its people, could not be weakened.
Addressing an Eid Milan event hosted by the Pakistan Peoples Party in Malakwal city of Mandi Bahauddin district, Zardari delivered the first half of his speech in Punjabi – a gesture which was greeted by the audience with rapturous applause.
Describing democracy as the only way forward towards progress and prosperity, the president urged all political parties to work to strengthen democracy. He also assured that the next general elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The president warned that democracy in Pakistan still had some shortcomings – but stressed that there was a need to rectify the problems with a collective political vision.
About the main opposition party, the president said even though the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had parted ways with the PPP, it did not mean the two parties had become enemies. Referring to the Supreme Court verdict in the Asghar Khan case petition, President Zardari said Benazir Bhutto had been vindicated by the decision as it had rightly pointed that the results of the general election were snatched from her.
“I want that the child of a poor enjoy the same rights as the child of an industrialist,” he said, adding that the he had the desire that every child in the country enjoy his rights with equality. President Zardari earlier unveiled several development projects for Mandi Bahauddin district.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2012.