By APP,
Islamabad : Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party and Presidential Candidate Senator Asif Ali Zardari said Friday that a strong Federation can best respond to challenges confronting the country today. Commenting on the unanimous support by three provincial Assemblies to his candidature, Zardari said that this support is for the ideals that he stands for.
“The overwhelming support for my candidature by the three provincial assemblies, the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is a vote of endorsement for a strong federation” , he said.
“There is also a consensus in the country that an empowered Federation alone can stand up to challenges that are threatening the stability of the nation. A robust Pakistan can only be ensured by a candidate who has the support of a majority of political forces”, he added.
Senator Asif Ali Zardari further said for the September 6 presidential elections, the process is as significant as the outcome. “We must not forget that last year, we had an election for the same post under a process that was unanimously declared as non-democratic by all the national and international political forces.
“The October 2007 election led to a political and constitutional crisis and was followed by street confrontation. The country was dragged into a danger zone merely to ensure the appointment of one single individual, backed by the might of the establishment.”
Mr Zardari stressed that this year’s Presidential election is being conducted in a purely political and democratic environment. “No compromises are being made on the transparency of the process, no state resources are being used and all candidates are contesting their respective positions on political grounds. This is a big achievement for a country where for a decade, successive presidential elections have been mired in controversy. We must count the Sept 6 election as a success of the democratic process.”
Mr Zardari said that if elected President, his first priority would be to support the PM, the National Assembly and the Senate to amend the Constitution to bring back into balance the powers of the presidency.
He said that he strongly stands for a system where all decisions for the country are taken by the elected representatives. PPP Co-Chairman said that his election to the post of President would be seen as the elected representatives’ choice for a strong Federation.
“And I am committed to take the agenda as my responsibility as a political figure and my constitutional obligation as a head of the state. All democratic forces have stakes in a sovereign parliament and a stable federation and the direction of all future policies and actions should incorporate this agenda”, said Mr Zardari.