Zardari to stay in Pakistan after end of tenure: Farhatullah Babar
The President won't contest elections for a second term, says spokesperson.
President Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that President Asif Ali Zardari will continue to stay in Pakistan even after the end of his term to tend to party affairs.
"President Zardari's five-year term comes to an end on September8, 2013 and he won't contest elections for a second term," said the spokesperson.
A schedule for the presidential elections has been sought from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Addressing the media outside Parliament House, the spokesperson said that the president will not resign from his office before the completion of his tenure.
"He was democratically elected and will stay till the time stipulated in the constitution," said Babar, adding that President Zardari is the first elected head of state to do so.
"The decision to field an opposition candidate would be taken later in consultation with other political parties," added the spokesperson.
"Currently, the president is in Dubai to meet his children from where he will go to London to meet his daughter," the spokesperson said.
Babar falsified rumours claiming that Zardari will remain in London till the end of his term.
"The president will come back to Pakistan at all costs," Babar said.
Abbottabad Commission report
With respect to the Abbottabad Commission report on Osama bin Laden's raid, the spokesperson said that the government should publish the report and present it in parliament for debate.
The government should also follow recommendations outlined in the report, said Babar.
The report released by Al Jazeera on July 8 brought to light a scathing assessment of the Pakistani government and the security structures existing during the time a US raid was conducted on bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad, resulting in his death.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly mentioned the date of the end of tenure as September8, 2012 instead of September8, 2013.
Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that President Asif Ali Zardari will continue to stay in Pakistan even after the end of his term to tend to party affairs.
"President Zardari's five-year term comes to an end on September8, 2013 and he won't contest elections for a second term," said the spokesperson.
A schedule for the presidential elections has been sought from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Addressing the media outside Parliament House, the spokesperson said that the president will not resign from his office before the completion of his tenure.
"He was democratically elected and will stay till the time stipulated in the constitution," said Babar, adding that President Zardari is the first elected head of state to do so.
"The decision to field an opposition candidate would be taken later in consultation with other political parties," added the spokesperson.
"Currently, the president is in Dubai to meet his children from where he will go to London to meet his daughter," the spokesperson said.
Babar falsified rumours claiming that Zardari will remain in London till the end of his term.
"The president will come back to Pakistan at all costs," Babar said.
Abbottabad Commission report
With respect to the Abbottabad Commission report on Osama bin Laden's raid, the spokesperson said that the government should publish the report and present it in parliament for debate.
The government should also follow recommendations outlined in the report, said Babar.
The report released by Al Jazeera on July 8 brought to light a scathing assessment of the Pakistani government and the security structures existing during the time a US raid was conducted on bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad, resulting in his death.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly mentioned the date of the end of tenure as September8, 2012 instead of September8, 2013.