ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday condemned the
militants for ‘exploiting religion of Islam’ through attacking mosques,
churches, schools, national assets and civilians.
Zardari told
the parliament in his traditional annual address that the government of
his Pakistan Peoples Party in 2008 had inherited a country at war, a
divided nation, threat of terrorism and militancy, a fragile and
weakened Federation and unclear roles and mandates of different
institutions of the State.
The government, he said, dealt with
enormous challenges and tried to meet the aspirations of the people and
transform the country.
He said efforts to counter militancy and extremism in the country had begun to pay off and the situation had improved.
"Where
necessary, we have used force to ensure that the writ of the state is
not challenged. We will continue to show resolve on this issue," the
President said, adding, “the country faced the threat of militancy and
extremism and its forces, police and civilians had been attacked and
martyred”.
"Our bases, police stations, pipelines, railways,
hotels, schools, have been targeted. Even our mosques, churches and
religious shrines have not been spared," he said.
The President regretted that the country’s image had been negatively projected and the economy has had to bear extra burden.
He
said to deal with the mind-set of a small minority, the government
mobilized the society and tried to generate a national consensus.
President
Zardari lauded the sacrifices of the country’s armed forces, civil
armed forces, police and all the innocent men and women who had
suffered.
"I salute the courage and sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives to secure the future of our nation,” he said.
President Zardari vowed general election to be held in a free and fair manner during the new parliamentary year.
"We are starting a new parliamentary year. During this period, we will see free and fair election," he said.
Parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability is a new and important facet of foreign policy.
On
international issues, he said Pakistan is committed to fully support an
Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process in Afghanistan. “The
government has signed the Pak-Afghan transit trade agreement which will
open up our trade with central Asian countries with whom we have
historical ties”.
He said Pakistan and China have a unique relationship which is deeply rooted and mutually beneficial.
“My eight visits to China are a manifestation of taking this relationship to new heights”.
He said that important steps have been taken to open up trade between India and Pakistan.
He
said Pakistan-United States relations are multi-dimensional and
important, adding Pakistan seeks to engage meaningfully with the US on
the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect.
“We are looking forward to your recommendations for re-engaging with the United States”.
He
said Pakistan’s relations with the European Union have expanded and
deepened. We are grateful for the EU initiative on the tariff
concession, adding that Pakistan also attaches importance to its
relations with the Russian federation.
He said Pakistan also
enjoys close and fraternal relations with all brotherly Islamic
Countries. “We also seek to deepen our engagement with East Asia, Africa
and Latin America. As an active member of the international community
we uphold the principles of United Nations”. He said because of
Pakistan’s standing in international community that Pakistan was elected
as member of the United Nations Security Council last year.
He
presented an overview of the achievements of the coalition government in
all areas, including strengthening economy, measures to address energy
shortage, counter terrorism and successes in international diplomacy.
The
President said the coalition government was formed to deepen democracy
and all worked together to restore the 1973 Constitution. "As President,
I surrendered my powers. And today, the Prime Minister, the Chief
Executive, enjoys full authority as required bylaw."
He
described it as "a shining moment for our parliament" and added history
will remember this achievement, just as the nation remembers Shaheed
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the architects of the 1973 Constitution.
Referring
to the measures taken to balance the powers of the Centre and the
provinces, President Zardari said the government abolished the
Concurrent List and transferred 18 ministries to the provinces and
enhanced provincial autonomy.
He said the Council of Common
Interests was made fully functional and added this great transformation
was achieved with complete agreement of all the stakeholders.
"This shows complete unity of our nation in adopting legislation to make our country strong and democracy more inclusive."
The
President acknowledged that while a lot more needs to be done, a strong
beginning has been made. "We Pakistanis can be proud of our young
democracy," he said and pointed the world can today see that the march
of democracy goes on and "together we are creating history."
He
said the government in the last four years took special measures to
develop Balochistan and ensured the rights of the people living there.
In
his fifth address to the joint session of the parliament, the President
mentioned the measures and incentives taken by the PPP government in
the last four years for the improvement of the lives of the Balochis and
for the development of this province which was ignored in the past.
The
President said, "The Government has taken special measures to develop
Balochistan, end its sense of deprivation and bring it at par with other
provinces."
Zardari said over 11,500 jobs have been financed in
the province by the federal government. He said, "We share the agonies
of the people of Balochistan."
He apologized to the people of
Balochistan, and said, "We apologized for the wrongs done to them in the
past." He said, "I apologized personally for the mistakes of the past.
He said the government has taken steps on both the political and
economic fronts.
The President said,
’Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan’ initiated by the present government is
under implementation to mitigate feelings of being left out. He said,
"But we recognize that much more needs to be done to heal the wounds of
the past and we are willing to go extra mile to engage in dialogue with
our Baloch brothers."
President Zardari said, "We are seeking to
reach common understanding on the development of Balochistan and bring
it at par with other provinces."
The President said the
government is disbursing arrears of 120 billion rupees on account of Gas
Development Surcharge and doubling its share under the NFC. He said the
share of Balochistan this year in the new NFC award has been more than
doubled from Rs 43 billion to Rs 93 billion.
He said steps taken
by the government provided solid basis for moving towards a settlement
of the grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Zardari said
special attention has been paid to less developed areas in addition to
transfer of huge resources. He said the federal government is taking
care of all vertical programs in health sector.
He said the
federal government is also supplementing efforts to equip law
enforcement agencies wherever needed to improve security situation. He
said, "I realize that many in Balochistan feel neglected and even
deprived. We have tried to redress the situation."
Zardari said,
"Let me also say that the political reconciliation initiated in
Balochistan should continue and be stepped up." He however said the
healing wounds of the past is a lengthy process.
President
Zardari said, "We are determined to respond to the aspirations of our
brothers and sisters in Balochistan." He mentioned the grave issue of
militancy and extremism and said force has been used, where necessary,
to ensure that the writ of the state was not challenged.
"We
will continue to show the resolve on this issue," he said and added that
he believes that these efforts have begun to pay off and the situation
has improved.
Free, fair general election: President Zardari
vowed general election to be held in a free and fair manner during the
new parliamentary year.
"We are starting a new parliamentary
year. During this period, we will see free and fair election," the
President said. He said legislation had been made to "make the democracy
more transparent and ensure that the elections are fair and free".
He
mentioned the 20th Amendment which, he said ensures the independence of
Election Commission and the selection of an impartial care-taker
government through a process of consultation in the Parliament.
"This
extraordinary legislation will guarantee credible elections, increase
confidence in democracy and enhance the image of our country in the
world," he said.
He said he is the country’s first Head of State
as he addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament for the fifth time.
"This is the first time in our history that an elected President is
addressing the joint sitting for the fifth time,"
President
Zardari said the world can see that the march of democracy was going on
with the institutions working smoothly. "Together, we are creating
history. While a lot more needs to be done, a strong beginning has been
made," he said.
He said Pakistanis could be proud of this young
democracy. President Zardari earlier addressed the Parliament for the
first time on September 9, 2008; for second time on September 20, 2008;
for third time on March 28, 2009 and for the fourth time on March 22,
2011.
The President expressed gratitude to the leadership of all
the political parties for their support to the democratic process and
for passing historic laws. "I wish to compliment Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani for his able leadership in the House."
He said the
government has been driven by the vision of Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir
Bhutto. He quoted her as saying; "It is time for new ideas. It is time
for bold commitments. And it is time for honesty among people and
between people. There has been enough pain. It is time for
reconciliation."
The President said his address marked the start
of a new Parliamentary Year, during which "we will see free and fair
elections."
The President also mentioned the altered
Constitution, disillusionment in the smaller provinces and vulnerable
groups, energy shortages due to past neglect, and serious economic and
balance of payments crisis. He said these issues were compounded by the
great floods of 2010, the extraordinary rains of 2011 and a sharp
increase in the price of imported oil.
He said that despite all
the problems, the government took historic decisions to provide more
finances to the provinces and after a gap of 13 years, the federal and
all provincial governments agreed on a new NFC Award, that saw share of
the provinces increased.
He said nearly 70 percent of the
resources were being transferred to the provinces, providing more money
for education, health, drinking water, municipal services and law and
order.
President Zardari said in the last two years alone, over
Rs 800 billion have additionally been transferred to the provinces and
pointed that if utilized correctly, these resources can help transform
the lives of the people. Online
