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President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called for moving on from the “polarisation” plaguing domestic politics as his record seventh parliamentary address was marred by sloganeering from the opposition benches.
Zardari was elected to office on March 9, becoming the only Pakistani president to assume the role twice. Thursday’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate was his seventh.
Zardari’s son PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and daughter Aseefa, who was recently sworn in as an MNA, were also in attendance, as well as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the chief ministers of all the provinces.
As soon as the president began speaking, slogans from PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council lawmakers reverberated in the House as they chanted “Go Zardari go” while also carrying posters.
However, the president was undeterred by the ruckus and powered on with his speech, which was drowned out by the sloganeering.
Speaking to both houses of the Parliament, he said: “The country needs us to move 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 […].”
At the outset of his address, the president said, “Let me take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to all parliamentarians and provincial assembly members for their trust and confidence in electing me for a second time as the president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. I am humbled.”
“Let me begin this year by sharing my vision for the future; much of it is based on the choices I’ve made in my past,” he added.
Referring to the 18th Amendment brought during his previous tenure, he said, “[…] I chose to give away my powers to parliament […] I expect you to use those powers with the wisdom and maturity this country needs.”
Stating that he saw his role as a “unifying symbol of a joint and unified federation”, President Zardari emphasised it was “time to turn a new page”. “If we see today as a new beginning […] that we can build on our strength by investing in our people by focusing on public needs, […] we’ll create pathways to inclusive growth,” he added.
“The country needs us to move 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 […],” he asserted.
“The country needs us to take a pause and reflect on what we prioritise in our goals, narratives and agendas,” the president said, adding that he believed that the leaders could “lift the political atmosphere to reflect more light than heat”.
Noting that he drew inspiration from great leaders such as Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and ex-premiers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said the challenges being faced by the country were not impossible to overcome.
“They just require dialogue, parliamentary consensus and a timeline of implementation of rigorous reforms aimed to address new and underlying issues facing us,” he emphasised.
The second-time president said: “Let’s begin with a vision that strives to leave no one behind, the political leadership gathering in this house must prioritise the needs of communities in underdeveloped areas.”
He said that an “inclusive growth model that emphasised equality of opportunities” and positive working relationships between the federal government and the provinces was essential for a national agenda.
“Pakistan needs all hands on deck to revitalise its economy,” President Zardari stressed, adding that attracting foreign investment should be the country’s primary objective. He called on the government to simplify existing regulations and enable an environment for domestic and foreign investors.
“At the same time, we must accelerate endeavours to enhance the competitiveness of our products in global markets,” the president added, noting a “huge untapped potential” in various sectors, including agriculture, marine life, textile and IT.
President Zardari also touched upon the issue of climate change, recalling the devastating super floods of 2022 that hit the country.
The president had earlier summoned the session for April 16 but reportedly delayed it at the request of lawmakers, mostly from the coalition parties.
During his five-year stint in the Presidency from September 2008 to 2013, he had already addressed the parliament six times. The sixth address on April 16, 2013 too was a record as no other president had addressed as many joint sittings before him.
After the February 2008 elections, the constitutional requirement of calling a joint session was fulfilled by Zardari, following which ex-presidents Mamnoon Hussain and Dr Arif Alvi also upheld the practice of addressing the sitting at the beginning of each parliamentary year.
The joint session has been called in pursuance of Articles 54(1) and 56(3) of the Constitution, the latter stating: “At the commencement of the first session after each general election to the National Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses assembled together […].”
More to follow
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