ISLAMABAD: Stressing the need for meaningful dialogues, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday
called for political reconciliation to do away with the polarisation and overcome the
challenges pervading the crisis-hit country.
He stated this while addressing the maiden joint session of parliament after the February
8 general elections amid protest and sloganeering by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-
backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers.
“Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all parliamentarians
and provincial assembly members for their trust and confidence in electing me for a
second time as the president of Islamic republic of Pakistan,” the president said this in his
opening remarks.
President Zardari said their agenda and ideology will strengthen the country and
underlined the need for creating a political environment to fulfill the expectations of all
stakeholders.
He asked the political leadership of the country to highlight their priorities and stressed
the need for ending differences for the country’s prosperity.
“While there are many economic reforms the government will drive in spurring jobs,
reducing inflation and expanding the tax net, I want to underscore the importance of
promoting positive working relationships and effective coordination, within our
constitutional framework, between the Federal Government and the Provinces. This is
absolutely essential for promoting an inclusive national development agenda and rolling
out policies that execute tangible action on the ground.”
President Zardari called for taking positive steps, saying harmony among institutions is
the need of the hour to pave wave for the development of the country.
“If we see today as a new beginning, which it is, then we can build on our strengths by
investing in our people, by focusing on public needs, and by harnessing our resources to
create pathways to inclusive growth.”
He said: “I also feel that we have little time to waste. The country needs us to move on
from the polarisation so common now to contemporary politics. This joint House must
play a leading role in rebuilding public confidence in the parliamentary process and
establish a foundation for the uninterrupted sustainable development of our nation.”
‘Atmosphere of mutual respect’
Addressing the upper house of the parliament, President Zardari stressed the need for
parliamentary consensus and fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and political
reconciliation to do away with the polarisation and overcome the challenges pervading the
crisis-hit country.
“In my considered view, it is time to turn a new page… The challenges we face are not
impossible to overcome. They just require the fundamentals of meaningful dialogue, and
parliamentary consensus… We can effectively tackle our challenges and foster an
atmosphere of mutual respect and political reconciliation.”
The president’s address encompassed all of the major national and international matters
and challenges from economy, poverty, social welfare, women empowerment and foreign
policy to Kashmir and Palestine as well as climate change.
He said having given away his powers to the parliament, his role was as a unifying symbol
of a joint, robust federation, where all people and provinces should be treated as equal
before the law.
As a new beginning, President Zardari said the country needed to build its strengths by
investing in people, focusing on public needs, and harnessing its resources to create
pathways to inclusive growth. “We have little time to waste.
Calling for resetting the political atmosphere and reflect “more light than heat”, he
emphasised reforms, to promote good governance and turning challenges into
opportunities.
‘Terrorism rearing its head again’
Stressing the need for joint efforts, President Zardari has warned that terrorism is rearing
its head again in the country, hoping that neighbouring countries will take action against
militants involved in cross-border attacks.
“Terrorism is a threat for our national security, prosperity and regional peace. Pakistan
considers terrorism as a common threat.”
The president said that the terrorist groups involved in attacks on the security forces and
people. He hoped that the neighbouring counties would take measures against the terrorist
groups involved in launching attacks inside Pakistan.