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After the poor showing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the May 11 parliamentary elections, President Asif Ali Zardari says he will not seek another term in office.
Asif Zardari was elected to the Presidency on September 6, 2008 and his five-year constitutional term expires in September 2013.
Ive no right, or justification, to run for the office of president this time round, Zardari told a select group of journalists in his first panel interview after the elections. If the party [PPP] wants me to lead, I will lead it. Otherwise, Ill serve the party as a worker, he said.
The PPPs rival Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the single largest party in the elections. Zaradri welcomed the new government and said that the PPP would cooperate with it while sitting on the opposition benches. We will play the role of a constructive opposition, he added.
President Zardari said that he was happy with the first-ever democratic transition of power in the country. Not only Nawaz Sharif but also other political stalwarts, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, played a role in making this democratic transition possible, he said.
For the first time in the parliamentary history of Pakistan, PPPs Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was unanimously elected leader of the house in 2008. Zardari said that Nawaz Sharif should also be elected unopposed. He advised him to contact other parties for this purpose.
On the issue of peace talks with the Taliban, President Zardari said there was a need to differentiate between the militant and political wings of the ultraorthodox group. If we want to hold talks with the Taliban we will have to differentiate between their political and armed wings because the latter does not believe in talks, he added.
Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for its policy vis-a-vis US drone strikes, the president said that those who say they would put an end to drone strikes should fulfil their promises. What will you do after shooting down a drone? Drones are not kites that you can just shoot down, he added.
President Zardari said his government had no secret agreement on drone strikes with the United States. However, he added that he was not aware if former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had signed such a deal.
Asked about the fate of Musharraf who was recently granted bail in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, Zardari said, Now, Musharrafs fate is in the hands of [incoming premier] Nawaz Sharif. He added that if the new government requested him to pardon Musharraf, he would be bound to act accordingly.
About the Balochistan conundrum, President Zardari said the PPP-led coalition government did a lot for the Baloch people. However, he added that you cannot do [much] for those who do not do anything for themselves.
Asked about the role of the establishment in Balochistan, President Zardari said that the definition of this word had changed in the country. Time and again, the Baloch nationalist leaders have blamed the establishment for the dismal affairs of the province.
About graft cases in Switzerland, President Zardari said: The Swiss cases are controversial and have no value or importance. He added that he had already spent eight years in jail over these cases.
Presidential elections: President Zardari will not seek another term – The Express Tribune
Asif Zardari was elected to the Presidency on September 6, 2008 and his five-year constitutional term expires in September 2013.
Ive no right, or justification, to run for the office of president this time round, Zardari told a select group of journalists in his first panel interview after the elections. If the party [PPP] wants me to lead, I will lead it. Otherwise, Ill serve the party as a worker, he said.
The PPPs rival Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the single largest party in the elections. Zaradri welcomed the new government and said that the PPP would cooperate with it while sitting on the opposition benches. We will play the role of a constructive opposition, he added.
President Zardari said that he was happy with the first-ever democratic transition of power in the country. Not only Nawaz Sharif but also other political stalwarts, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, played a role in making this democratic transition possible, he said.
For the first time in the parliamentary history of Pakistan, PPPs Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was unanimously elected leader of the house in 2008. Zardari said that Nawaz Sharif should also be elected unopposed. He advised him to contact other parties for this purpose.
On the issue of peace talks with the Taliban, President Zardari said there was a need to differentiate between the militant and political wings of the ultraorthodox group. If we want to hold talks with the Taliban we will have to differentiate between their political and armed wings because the latter does not believe in talks, he added.
Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for its policy vis-a-vis US drone strikes, the president said that those who say they would put an end to drone strikes should fulfil their promises. What will you do after shooting down a drone? Drones are not kites that you can just shoot down, he added.
President Zardari said his government had no secret agreement on drone strikes with the United States. However, he added that he was not aware if former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had signed such a deal.
Asked about the fate of Musharraf who was recently granted bail in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case, Zardari said, Now, Musharrafs fate is in the hands of [incoming premier] Nawaz Sharif. He added that if the new government requested him to pardon Musharraf, he would be bound to act accordingly.
About the Balochistan conundrum, President Zardari said the PPP-led coalition government did a lot for the Baloch people. However, he added that you cannot do [much] for those who do not do anything for themselves.
Asked about the role of the establishment in Balochistan, President Zardari said that the definition of this word had changed in the country. Time and again, the Baloch nationalist leaders have blamed the establishment for the dismal affairs of the province.
About graft cases in Switzerland, President Zardari said: The Swiss cases are controversial and have no value or importance. He added that he had already spent eight years in jail over these cases.
Presidential elections: President Zardari will not seek another term – The Express Tribune
