Pakistan's Zardari says not leaving office
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari is seen during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul (not pictured) in Istanbul November 1, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Murad Sezer
ISLAMABAD |
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has said leaving office is not an option and that no one has asked him to resign, responding to speculation that the powerful military wanted him to go.
"No one has asked for it yet. If someone does, I'll tell you," Zardari, who appeared in good spirits after medical treatment in Dubai last month, said in a pre-recorded interview with one of the country's most popular television anchors.
The army, which sets security and foreign policies, has asked Pakistani civilian leaders to resign in the past and influenced judicial proceedings against them.
Zardari is facing his biggest political crisis since he took office in 2008 over an unsigned memo to the Pentagon that sought U.S. help in reining in Pakistan's generals, who have ruled the nation for more than half of its history.
Businessman Mansoor Ijaz, writing in a column in the Financial Times, said a senior Pakistani diplomat had asked that the memo be delivered.
Ijaz later identified the diplomat as Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's then ambassador in Washington and a close Zardari aide.
Haqqani denies any involvement, and no evidence has emerged that the military was plotting a coup.
The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the matter, which could further threaten Pakistan's weak civilian government, especially if a link is established between the memo and Zardari.
STEPPING DOWN NOT AN OPTION
The controversy highlighted tensions between civilian governments and the military that have bedeviled the nuclear-armed South Asian nation for almost its entire existence, and sparked rumors that the military may force Zardari out.
It has also put pressure on already tense ties with the United States, which needs Islamabad's help in efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and wants Pakistan's leaders to focus on pressing problems such as militancy and a struggling economy.
Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, who has vowed to keep the military out of Pakistan's stormy politics, has dismissed coup rumors as speculation and said the army supported democracy.
Military sources have told Reuters the army is fed up with Zardari and wants him out of office, but through legal means.
Although his position is largely ceremonial, Zardari wields considerable influence as leader of the ruling party and any forced departure would be a humiliation for the civilian leadership and could throw the country into turmoil.
When asked in the interview broadcast Saturday if "escape" was an option for him, Zardari replied: "Why should it be?"
Zardari was elected in 2008 on the back of a sympathy vote after his charismatic wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated shortly after returning from self-imposed exile.
Zardari has largely failed to deliver since then, dismissed as an uncaring playboy - another feudal landlord who ignored the needs of the masses - while Pakistan lurched from crisis to crisis, from crippling power cuts to suicide bombings.
He has always appeared to lack the political resolve to push through reforms that could help Pakistan's fragile economy and make it less dependent on foreign aid.
Criminal cases could also haunt Zardari, who earned the title "Mr. 10 Percent" while Bhutto was in power, based on allegations he demanded kickbacks on state contracts.
Zardari has also been accused of murder and has spent 11 years in jail on corruption charges. He was never convicted and denies any wrongdoing.
(Editing by Michael Georgy and Louise Ireland)
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The writer also forgot to mention that incidence of suicide bombing has been brought under controlled by managing the law and order situation better and giving political ownership of the people to the government’s derive against terrorism and extremism. No where in the history of Pakistan, the people were whole hearted against terrorism than they are now. This political ownership by the people has helped the government to take away steam out of terrorists and extremists which in itself is a great achievement.
The Presidents political acumen can be gauged from the fact that although effort are being made to put the institutions at loggerhead with each other but the President proved a wielding power to keep the institutional confrontation at bay and allowed them to work in their respective jurisdictions.
The energy crisis was not creation of this government but perhaps this is the only government which is investing in research and development to create its own energy, with its own raw material and with its own human resource. The bad time will be over soon as gas and power generation from thar Coal deposits starts. This will solve the energy and power crises of the country at least for hundred year that too at a cost effective manner. The other permanent solution on which government is working is the power and energy import from Iran and Turkmenistan which will provide a reliable sources of energy. Moreover there are many hydel and thermal power projects which are at various stages of completion and will help the country to come out of energy and power crises once far all.
The President was not installed in power by the army but by a process of free and fair election. He will go out of office only when his tenure is over or if the people stop loving him. But his address to the immense gathering on the Shaheed Mutarmah Benazir Bhuttoo’s death anniversary states that people still love and will protect him against all odds.
The Asif Ali Zardari is the only president who willingly gave away the arbitrary powers of the President to the parliament, was motivating force in election of Dr. Fehmida Mirza as Speaker of National Assembly and was the only President who encouraged the government to launch Benazir Income Support Program to alleviate the poverty in the county. The program has acclaimed international recognition of being transparent and effective and result oriented.
The Asif Ali Zardari is the only president who termed democracy as a biggest revenge. Instead of following the politics of revenge, malaise and mud slinging, he promoted the cultural of political reconciliation and tolerance which has provided the enabling environment of political activities without any fear and intimidation. The political parties are holding public meeting at the prominent places and the government is providing them all out security and protection. This has not been possible in the most of history of Pakistan.
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari as a President always stood with the army in difficult times. There were times when military was under huge pressure like OBL case and Attack on naval base in Karachi but the President stood behind the army in these difficult time and help it to overcome these shocks.
The handling of Reymond David case, the vacation of Shamshi air base by the American and his insistence on creating rules of engagement has helped the army and the country as a whole.
I can go on an on to describe the achievement of the president but will cut short by saying that the writer should have taken a balance view of the president not a skewed view as is being taken now
Qamar Bashir
The problems of militancy and struggling economy, mentioned by the writer, were a gift in inheritance by the predecessor regimes. They failed to cut down on the rate of suicide bombings. In 2011 however, the number of suicide attacks reduced to 50%, showing a significant decline.
Mr. Zardari remains a popularly elected, bold political leader. As acknowledged by the writer Mr. Zardari was never convicted, still he faced prison for 11 years, but never faltered.
Mr. Zardari holds a very special and key position in the party. He upheld the slogan of PPP by giving the poor and desolate of the country food, clothing and shelter. The most significant example to which is the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Till today Mr. Zardari remains the democratically- elected, longest- serving President. His resilience and political foresight has helped him maintain a viable working relation with his coalition partners.
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