Asif Zardari inspecting the guard of honour during his farewell ceremony on September 8, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the beleaguered Pakistans Peoples Party (PPP), steps down as the president today, having defied expectations by holding onto power for a record five years.
He headed to Lahore after departing from the President House.
Zardari presided over the only civilian government in Pakistan history to complete a full term in office and hand over to another through the ballot box.
His successor is Mamnoon Hussain, a businessman and close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose low-key persona and lack of personal power base puts him in stark contrast to Zardari.
He had earlier said that he will not seek to become prime minister and will instead focus on leading his party after stepping down.
Zardari's children Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari tweeted as their father stepped down from the presidency.
Prez AAZ sacrificed 11 1/2 yrs of his life as a political prisoner fighting for democracy in Pakistan. 1/2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 8, 2013
He lost his wife and I lost my mother in this battle, but we have won the war. Democracy has arrived. 2/2
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 8, 2013
For the 1st time in #Pakistan a civilian elected President completes his term. Mr #Zardari made history #ProudPakistani
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) September 8, 2013
"Asif's name will be one of those shining stars while those of his tormentors will fade from history" - SMBB (2003) http://t.co/kgXpT3iyBw
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) September 8, 2013
Former president arrives in Lahore
Addressing over 4,000 party workers that had gathered in Lahore, Zardari said that he would stand by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to see the process of democracy through.
"We have to take the struggle for democracy forward," he said. "An election has to follow after five years."
The former president who reached in Lahore on Sunday said he was confident that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto was by his side.
"We established the very thing they lost their lives for," he stated, adding that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s mandate had been stolen and taken away in the past.
"It would have been easy to start a fire but I have accepted this mandate. I have accepted this Parliament because I do not want politics to happen in Pakistan," he continued.
Commenting on what the future held for the party and him, he said "I no longer have the responsibility of the entire country. Now, I will meet workers, my children and my friends. I will openly interact with everyone and no once can stop that."
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Goodbye My dear leader Mr zardari SB God bless you
From February 18, 2008 till September 08, 2013 PPP did tried to perform well but the fact remains that it can't.
The basic reason for PPP to come into power was the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and people cast the sympathy votes to PPP in the name of BB Shaheed.
But then PPP could not perform well as it devoted more time to do politics rather than solving problems of a common man.
The inflation reached to its peak whereas the law and order situation could not be tackled by the PPP's "All the Kings Horses and All the Kings Men", which became the main reason of down fall of the PPP Government.
Mr. Zadari was accepted as a leader of PPP but not as a replacement of BB Shaheed.
In May 11, 2013 election, the PPP lost its credibility and therefore being a political party of the centre and provinces, it reduced to a provincial party of Sindh.
PPP could have won the last election but voters wanted a change due to non-cooperation of the sitting government of PPP.
To be in the Government is not a big deal but to retain a government for another five years is really a big deal.
Now PPP even can't win the next election as if there will be a change in the government, PTI will be the ultimate beneficiary.
Well done AAZ You completed your tenure with grace and honour. It is a great honour and blessing for you and PPP both.Best of luck.
A giant leap for mankind.
The Middle Class People would like to thank you for the 18th Amendment etc, but disappointed with many other aspects of his Presidency. Of course, after the 18th Amendment, we cannot blame him for much (besides holding dual office as President and PPP Co-Chairperson). Thank you for ensuring the smooth transfer of power.
thankyou zardari sb for ensuring democracy in pakistan, for breaking da ajaradaari of establishment, for empwering n giving the sense of pakistani to saraiki,sindhi, pathan, gilgiti, baloch.. u r a great man.. zardari tera aik ishaara hazir hazir laho hmara..
Lets not ridicule the importance of our system.. With a lot more internal conflicts than egypt, libya or syria, we are still more stable as a nation because of our systems.
Does a guard of honour make a man an honourable man...........or does it take more ?
Welcome to Lahore. Hopefully you will enjoy your stay . This is a good move.
@Fiz: He is a survivor because the poor soldier does not know his tricks. Else during Guard honor he would have faced the fate of "anwar sadat" of Eqypt
@Logic europe: I second you. His contributions outweigh his shortcomings. He is leaving a legacy of sustainable democracy. His government had a momentous task, with confronting institutions. In the end, he completed his job of transferring the baton to the next government. A job well done. I hope, his successors continue with the legacy.
Took a special kind of intelligence to do what Mr. Zardari did in difficult times.
Hearty congratulation on your sucess of 5 year. Every body who loves democracy will miss you. U desreves the great honours for being a successful Presedent of Pak because you truly explored the democracy...
It took more than 66 years for Pakistan to have a democratically elected President to complete his term. No mean achievement considering the numerous stake holders who work against democracy, including the tribal lords, the fundamentalists and the army. Best wishes for a democratic Pakistan.
SAYONARA.............till we meet again.............
Small things do little, time at presidency is not a measure of achievement, AZ despite being a powerful President, Look at the state of the country. Begging bowl is out again, it is a least desirable country for foreign investment, multi national names are exiting. Poverty and literacy level are at the worst level. Corruption at the highest.
@Logic europe:
LOL - Really? Zardari & Nelson Mandela??? You should perhaps consider changing your name to Illoogical Europe!
Well done Mr. President. . And for the haters, show me a better example or try to do better as now the "wrath of God" is no more at the helm of affairs. You have many years to prove yourselves.. huh
Well done Mr Zardari. Your services for strengthening democracy in Pakistan as its president will always be remembered. We welcome you now to contribute in making PPP a strong democratic institution.
The man who laid down foundations of modern democratic pakistan History will honour him as it did nelson Mandela
Rich Kid can't understand that Pakistanis and Pakistan is first....not the Democracy!
Pakistani nation deserved him and there is no hope in the new comers either. Education, literacy and progressiveness are missing from the fabric of society. We ought to learn the true meaning of peace and tolerance before better leaders can be found because they all come from amongst us.
BBZ & ABZ: when 75% people of Pakistan joke about the President of Pakistan..... all the oppositions insult the President.. when talk show utterly disrespect the president.. that's not a moment to proud off.
AAZ played good politics and became the president.. and those who collaborated to make him president (Shariefs), they were crying fool after that.
A common man has nothing to do with Democracy.. or if AAZ has completed his 5 years or not.. he just see his profit and loss for the 5 years term of Government.
I only commend and admire a person who truly changed people's lives - be it AAZ or NS or SS.. no one did it. History shows that Musharraf's 7-8 years made immense progress in every sector of Pakistan, first time after Bhutto Pakistan saw that much progress and where the fruits of economic progress went directly to common man. During Musharraf's 7 years, Lower class turned into middle class and middle class to upper class. It is only Musharraf's workout that Pakistan is surviving now a days.
The rich kids are tweeting "Win of Democracy" .... or "AAZMade History".....will you both go out and interact with the common people to know how much they have suffered in democracy.
Democracy for Pakistan is different from other world, in Pakistan Democracy means parliamentarians, politicians gets rich while citizens get poorer. Rich kids also failed to highlight the achievements made during the presidency..apart from completing 5 years tenure. It would have been great for all of us if you ABZ & BBZ tell us how Mr. President made people of Pakistan economically secure.. or it was not his job.. how he strength the brotherhood among Pakistanis.
Fazal Ilahi did serve for a little over 5 years but technically never finished his tenure. He was forced to resign and hand over the Presidency to Zia.
Truly democracy has been the best revenge...'ON' the people of Pakistan.
Thank God
ET pls print just the prices of everyday items in his tenure. I think the kids should know that and probably they all will tweets, democracy is the best revenge.
If I am not wrong LATE FAZAL ILAHI CHAUDRY of PPP also completed 5 yrs: in Office from 14th Aug: 1973 to 16 September 1978.
Its just so strange that an emotional nation filled up with blind deafs and dumbs would conveniently forget that this is the same man who has brought Pakistan to its brink because of the unbelievable massive corruption happened under government he sponsored. At the end everyone just smiles, take guard of honor and be remembered as the "first civilian president completing its tenure". I mean is it really worth celebrating ? What exactly should I celebrate when I as an overseas Pakistani desperately want to come back, but can't cause I know my life, property isn't safe over there. I can't do good business and I am not sure that whether there'll be electricity the next time i'll try to turn on a switch.
Respected Mr. Ex-President, The way you achieved unprecendented successes in your tenure, the way you checkmated rival politicians esp. Nawaz Sharif right from the start till the end have been extraordinary. You have got a very respectable place in history, which can never be replaced. You have taken steps clearly proving that you are truly a spiritual son of ZA Bhutto. We now expect you to again use your skills in re-structuring PPP especially in Punjab, and again make it the strongest binding force of Pakistan. Wish you best of luck for your future endeavors.
good bye Mr. president.. although, initially it was hard for us all to accept you as the president but you did complete your full term and whether some of us agree or not.. i think you are a big reason why Pakistan is still in a democratic state.. and i thank you for it.. Have a good life!
AAZ - You would be missed Sir! Perhaps now your closeted ally in IK can officially amalgamate his internet club with your party and become a Co-Chairperson :D
Adieu Zardari. Welldone! Despite all your shortcomings you are a true survivor.