Tomorrow’s leaders: Zardari urges youth to fight anti-Malala mindset
President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that Pakistan was facing a great challenge from the mindset that attacked iconic child activist Malala Yousafzai in Swat.
Currently under treatment in a hospital in Birmingham, UK, Malala was shot and critically wounded, along with two school mates, by a gunman from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), for promoting secular education in the region.
The Maulana Fazlullah-led TTP had launched a bloody campaign to impose their obscurantist agenda in Swat until they were routed in a massive military operation in 2009.
Addressing the second ‘Pakistan Leaders of Tomorrow’ conference at the Presidency on Tuesday, President Zardari urged the youth to take up the challenge and fight this mindset as it is threatening the country and the future generations.
Appreciating the potential of the youth in Pakistan, the president said that we should not think of what the country has given us but “what we have given to the country”.
PPP’s political achievements
On the political front, President Zardari said that after assuming office, he voluntarily gave up all his powers to Parliament in order to strengthen democracy in the country.
He insisted that it was his priority to empower the provinces for strengthening Pakistan and safeguarding the future of the coming generations.
“The first thing I did after assuming office was to create a consensus in parliament for the empowerment of the people,” he added.
Referring to his voluntarily transfer of powers to parliament, President Zardari said that he even transferred the control of the nuclear power and entrusted it to parliament.
“Collective wisdom is always better than individual wisdom; therefore, the PPP always adopted the policy of reconciliation and empowered parliament which is the true representative of the people of Pakistan,” he stated.
Referring to the fluid security situation in the country, the president said attempts were being made to weaken Pakistan, but he strengthened the federating units in order to strengthen the country, promote unity and harmony, and to counter those designs.
The later part of the president’s speech turned into an interactive session where he invited students to ask questions.
Drone strikes
Replying to a question regarding the contentious drone strikes, the president said, “Pakistan has very clear policy on the drone attacks,” and added that the government had taken a number of steps to provide relief to the affected people.
“We have to find solution to the drone issue through diplomatic means,” he added.
He revealed that the affected areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata had been allocated more development funds as compared to previous years.
Bilalwal’s speech
Speaking at the same event, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called upon all political parties to unite and cooperate with each other to fight terrorism for the sake of a safe and secure future of the country.
“Pakistan has been facing the menace of extremism and terrorism and there is a need for united efforts by all the political forces to face these challenges,” Bilawal said. “Our country is under attack. Pakistan is under attack. You are either with us or against us. It is that simple.”
Referring to the joint responsibilities to face the threat of terrorism, the PPP chairman said that keeping in view the importance of the issue, the PPP had put old differences with other political forces aside and was ready to unite against this common enemy.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been part of the coalition in the initial months and the government was able to build the necessary consensus in the country that allowed it to end the Taliban rule in Swat.
Bilawal said he was certain that Nawaz Sharif was genuinely an ally in supporting democracy in the country.
He also welcomed Imran Khan’s decision to finally take part in the next general elections and expressed the confidence that his inclusion will have a positive impact on politics in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (19)
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try to understand the message instead of blindlessly going on an abuse spree. His father may be alot of things but what he said made alot of sense.
How come this baby Bhutto has become leader. This is the leader we have to present to the world now. Any 16 years old boy can give such statements. How long we will continue to support Inheritance Politics ?
"Zardari urges youth to fight anti-Malala mindset" then stop that Shariah4Pakistan thing who are going to issue fatwa against her!
In almost five years, the incumbents have done nothing, absolutely nothing.
Speeches are meaningless unless backed up by solid and profound deeds. In most cases of visiting and talking, the feeling conveyed is that it is no more than a pre-election stunt.
Any nonprofessional can discern the economic disaster that is Pakistan. The security situation also speaks for itself, additionally being an eyesore. The resolutions for deweaponization are nothing but a FARCE to please the banal politicians whose only interest is 'smash and grab' by promoting violence.
Is it not a shame to our God gifted common sense that even educated persons are calling 'Malala' a CIA agent? What to talk of uneducated persons? Wake up Pakistan wake up.
Salams
ET must cover the leaders of the largest party in Pakistan which has consistently won elections even under the army rule. There is no other national party in the country that can claim its presence in all provinces.
Oh yes, the man taking our present from under our feet wants us to secure our future.
People cant even read. The conference was named Tomorrow's Leaders. And given that anyone and everyone can take part in Politics, Bilawal has all the right to!
What about Anti-Gaza mindset?
Agree, Pakistan need to move away from the corruption and faith terrorism that is feed by ignorance and poverty. I really hope that Pakistan good will for democracy and justice will be successful. Will be great for the world and closed neighbor nation.
Why are we such a hopeless and hateful bunch? I mean before a person open his mouth in Pakistan, some in the crowd has an hate agenda against him/her. As soon as someone bring an idea s/he has enemies of it already, making a plan how to sabotage it, their animosity is usually based on the characteristics s/he has no power on. I'm seeing from childhood, whenever there was a good cause schemes introduced by a neighborhood, school, club, community, or any association or institution. someone from a corner start shouting slurs, cracking jokes, defaming, demoralizing, denouncing just because s/he was not able to come up with the same idea and now fears hopelessly that the person or party is going to be rich, famous, champion of the cause and somehow all this will be bad for the one who did not initiate it. Now s/he think herself/himself as sore looser and instead of joining the cause start to become it's enemy for cause of hate. Why do we do this every time, we must think about it!
@saeed Ironically, his statements are precisely the only thing where you would nt find something wrong. Lol.
Bilawal's statements in BOLD....do say something about the paper's compromise.
@Saeed Zardari and co never gave any negative statements about Pakistan but what they have done in the last five years is evident from their actions. @Naeem...ET supports feudal dictatorship, he is son of sitting President and two time Prime Minister so we should accept him as a leader
If this is the leadership of Tomorrow...... Then we are Doomed! The only qualification he has is the Tag of "Bhutto" as his surname.
Oh Bilawal...ET's new love affair
I know there will be lot of negative comments are ready But before putting any negative comments read the article , and as a Pakistani if someone find anything wrong in his statements, than put the healthy feedback .
People's Party is my favourite party. I will vote for PPP in the next elections. PPP is the only party that can rid us of Talibanization. The rest are all Talibs themselves.
ET pls STOP giving him coverage. Enough!
ET: What makes Bilawal Tomorrow's leader?