“We [PPP] accepted the elections despite our reservations, but at the same time it is also our democratic right to criticise wrong decisions of the government,” says President Zardari. PHOTO: AFP
Outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari says that after overseeing the first-ever democratic transition of power in Pakistan and relinquishing presidential powers to parliament, he is leaving the presidency as a satisfied man.
“Democratic transition to power means strengthening of democracy and I’m confident that Pakistan will be the ultimate winner,” said President Zardari while speaking at a farewell dinner he hosted for journalists at the Presidency on Monday. “I’ve no regrets. I’m exiting the Presidency with honour and dignity.”
President Asif Zardari will step down on September 8 after completing his five-year constitutional term. PML-N leader Mamnoon Hussain, who won the July 30 presidential election, will step into Zardari’s shoes.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will extend complete support to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in tackling the challenges like terrorism and economic recovery, Zardari told journalists.
The PPP lost the May 11 elections to the PML-N and is now the main opposition party in parliament. “We [PPP] accepted the elections despite our reservations,” he said. “But at the same time it is also our democratic right to criticise wrong decisions of the government.”
Speaking about the performance of the previous PPP government, the president admitted that it might have committed failures but democratic transition of power is its biggest achievement. He, however, added that the PPP, a populist political party, could not implement its welfare agenda due to scarce resources.
“Today even Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would acknowledge that democracy is the best revenge,” he said referring to the PPP’s slain chairperson. “People failed to understand when I used to say, ‘we have come to create history, not to make headlines’.”
The president said that he believed in the freedom of expression as an inalienable democratic right of the people. “We tolerated scathing criticism for the sake of democracy,” he said. “Others should learn from the criticism I and my party faced. Politicians are people’s representatives and people have the right to criticise them.” The president reiterated that the PPP would support every positive move of the government. He added that he had arranged Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s meeting with Nawaz Sharif with the aim to ensure continuity of policies which is important for progress.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
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Come on people look at his smile. Quite enchanting, the only politician who always smiles. Lol
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President Zardari's politics is to appease MQM and their supporters.
ask us how much i or most were satisfied (and tolerant) when someone like him was residing in the president house? and how satisfied we are now! five years!! where did they go, and at what and whose expense??
zardari's net worth: 1.8 billion ($ USD) sharif's net worth: 1.4 billion ($ USD) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofPakistanisbynet_worth
Alhamdulilah,,,,
Somehow, I feel dejected by his departure. Maybe because every time some one leaves a worse replacement is witnessed!!
@Raj - USA: Postage stamp? How about a grand memorial, eh?
Dear Sirs,
Transfer of power is not the end of PPP. Indeed, it is begining to secure just, fair and equitable democratic system of Government. Where opposition (PPP) can play very important role. One thing we must all learn, disruption, roits or killings of innocent people does not solve any problem what so ever. Therefore Pakistani people must learn discipline, faith and unity as suggested by Quid-i- Azam Mohammed Ali Jennah the father of of the nation. roblems need organised approach to find solutions. Pakistan face multi problems in sixty or more years of her history we made tremendous progress but successive failure over took the progress. There is very serious need for unity to resolve all disputes within and outwith Pakistan. And make Pakistan a progressive and develop county in Asia. Thank you.
You will be missed sir
He may be a bit corrupt..........but way better than Mr. Taliban Khan...........
@Jyala:
You must be high some really good stuff ma' man!! Instead of felicitating Zardari, you are meant to be disconsolate and chagrined on how Zardari in his own singular capacity managed to wreck PPP which is now purely a Jagirdaar Club of Interior Sindh.
Ought to be satisfied! Even though he could not see PTI emerge as the second fiddle to PPP post May 11th, despite his utmost efforts and providing covert support to IK - He still managed to install PTI in KPK. IK should give me an appropriate farewell on the palatial grounds of the Banigala Mansion.
Ought to be satisfied! Even though he could not see PTI emerge as the second fiddle to PPP post May 11th, despite his utmost efforts and providing covert support to IK - He still managed to install PTI in KPK. IK should give me an appropriate farewell on the palatial grounds of the Banigala Mansion.
He came in with one in his pocket and is going out with a hundred...............yes, he must be a satisfied man.
Democracy is the best revenge, he proved it by taking revenge against the people.
I am proud of you Mr. President, Keep smiling and stay blessed. Jiye Bhutto
Exiting with “honour” and “dignity” is part of the deal. Just like nation were robbed off of their mandate in general elections.
He stayed in power because he never really tried to do anything for the people and let the country slide away into chaos. He and his cronies however made billions. Many of our benefactors love to have such people in highest places.
Look.Hate, hate everywhere. It would be really interesting to see the demographics of the commentators in this thread. The propaganda against Zardari, albeit unproven, merely based on allegations is outrageously exaggerated in Punjab. Can someone please take some time to weigh in his services as a President?
I am surprised to see that people are happy that he completed his 5 years of democratic governament ! My question is things have gone worst in the last 5 years no body owned anything in Karachi, KPK . So think once again that why we are so happy to see a democratic exchange of governaments !!
you can say all the stuff Mr president. Because you are not the poor.... that's what all i have to say....
'The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will extend complete support to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government' Thank you sir for making it clear yet again that you two both are just two sides of the same coin.
Where are the 8000 billion rupee loans Mr. Satisfied that your regime took and doubled the debt of this unfortunate country???
What a visionary human being, I hope we get more presidents like Zardari Sir
Off course he has to be satisfied after serving in the most lofty position of the country for five years... oh wait but don't even bother to ask about the public and common people.
Exiting as a satisfied man? For doing nothing in a one man show. Salams
GreaT !! it is right and also tradition of our public that in our normal life ..how ever! the time will show the actual worth of personality who played 5 years with all crises and chalanges, pppp has not long time left the GOVT but public come into back and the results of these election shoes that still pppp is in public power..Allah bless you X-president...your part in these five years remained admireable..because the powers was in the hands pf PM and parliament.and u guide them and you have done team work with all and thought for pakistan not for one province....
Now that he wont be president so no more immunity. Will the court leave him without completing the cases against him. His name should be put on ESL so that he can face the court and accountability for misusing his office.
Love him or hate him, you got to give one thing to the man. If ever there was a master politician, it was him. To stay in power for 5 years with the khakhis, the judiciary and the media doing all they could to dislodge him is some achievement. If you don't believe, ask a certain Mr. Pasha. I am sure he will concede as much.
Happy retirement. Take Sonia with you where ever you go for retirement. India will be thankful to you.
he was the worst, yet the best than any general. no one could criticise the folks in boots does not mean they were angles. corrouption and power are intertwined, take it or leave it. from mst comments I see that only solution could be leaving in caves. grow up people.
@Raj - USA: He did nothing to establish or promote democracy, in fact, his whole tenure he was luring and tempting the military to take over so his party can play the victim card. The surest way to guarantee democracy is to improve the lives of the people, he on the other hand made Musharraf's rule look attractive! . A little perspective helps sometimes.
To have seen out a Master Class Politician like Zardari's entire tenure is an achievement for Pakistan and a testament to its resilience, for surely he was the biggest test this nation faced in its entire history. So I can say, Pakistan in general should be satisfied at Zardari's retirement. Thank you President for putting us through our paces.
His achievements outweigh his shortcomings. No other Pakistani president comes closer. Let's see how the newcomer performs. Good luck to him!
Of course he is leaving a Satisfied man.... He is worth over a billion dollars now in less than 5 years
@Raj - USA:
Value of PKR went lower from 60 to over 100 in front of US$ ever since 2008, tourism got affected, economy in shambles, target killing, sectarian outfits getting a fresh breeze in open air; and you talk about contributions of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.
This is not so good.
Killing Bomb Blasts, SHia Genocide, Ekectricity fiasco and exiting with Honor and Dignity !!!!!!!!!!!!
“People failed to understand when I used to say, ‘we have come to create history, not to make headlines’.”
Well, he has done that in a way. Acknowledge it or not.
'Exiting with Honour and Dignity'. People in high positions, being disconnected with reality-it is one of the commonest themes with respect to Power- in History.
Good Riddance!