| |
Country at crossroads of democracy: Zardari
PPP to welcome lawyers march in Islamabad
Observer Report
Islamabad—The co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, Asif Ali
Zardari has said that his party and PML-N were partners in the
journey of democracy. He said PPP believed in the dialogue process
while PML-N’s stance was impatient.
Addressing a meeting of Socialist International Asia Pacific
Committee here, PPP co-chairman said only democracy would have a
role to play in future and Pakistan was standing at the crossroad of
democracy at the moment.
Asif Zardari said that PPP and PML-N were partners in
strenghtheining democracy in Pakistan. Zardari said he had held
talks with Shahbaz Sharif and both parties were united for the cause
of democracy.
Paying tribute to Benazir Bhutto he said Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
played pivotal role in the restoration of democratic order in the
country. PPP believes in democracy. Democracy loving parties are
united like a family all over the world, he added.
He went on to say terrorism and extremism are potential threats to
democracy and nation. Stability in democratic institutions is must.
Country is set on the road to peaceful democracy, he added.
Speaking on the occasion information minister Sherry Rehman has said
Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism.
The international community should take into consideration that
Pakistan was not negotiating with terrorists but was holding talks
with those who had accepted writ of the government.
Country was facing challenge of hike in prices of food and petroleum
products, she remarked. Government believes in addressing all issues
through dialogue, she added. “Our policy is very clear for peace. We
want to eradicate extremism from the country through dialogue”, she
reiterated.
Secretary general Socialist International said PPP had rendered
unprecedented sacrifices for the cause of democracy in the country.
APP adds: Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Friday
said the proposed constitutional package is in final stage and would
be tabled in the Parliament after a thorough phase of deliberations
with all stakeholders.
“We would take all the like-minded parties including PML (N) onboard
on the package and, later, present it before media for a final
debate,” Zardari said.
He was addressing a news conference after a meeting of Socialist
International Asia-Pacific Committee, flanked by Minister for
Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman and Secretary General of
the Committee Luis Ayala.
Zardari said the Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H. Naek was
scheduled to meet him for approval of the draft of the package and
later their party would seek consultations with its political allies
including PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and other leaders.
Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari while replying to a question on the
resignation of President Pervez Musharraf said, “Whenever our
Parliament and people of Pakistan would desire, he would go.”
“You (media) have freedom of expression but politics is our
profession, let us do it, we will not disappoint the nation, come up
to their expectations and strengthen the democracy,” he added.
Zardari said Pakistan Peoples Party will follow the guidelines set
by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and was committed to moving
forward towards destination of complete democracy through dialogue.
“Dialogue is the best option to resolve the conflicts. Our leader
Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah got an independent country through
dialogue with Lord Mountbatten,” the Co-Chairman added. “I respect
sentiments of my political allies particularly PML (N) and want to
go ahead along with them. I want support of my friends and support
them,” he said, adding PPP is a mature party which had rendered
sacrifices for democracy, so we will not stop on this crucial turn.
Answering a question, PPP Co-Chairman said he did not believe in any
ascending or descending counting for resolution of prevailing
political or judicial crisis.
When asked about the long march of lawyers headed by Aitzaz Ahsan,
he said PPP would welcome the march in Islamabad as PPP believes in
democracy and wants to maintain democratic norms.
He said a delegation is being sent to the Untied States to convince
the US administration to support Pakistan overcome its food crisis
through supply of wheat free of cost.
|
