SPY EYES

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he has delegated his powers to parliament and every power is now bowing before the democratic institutions.

Addressing an ‘Eid Milan’ gathering here on Wednesday afternoon, the president said all the institutions are now accepting the supremacy of parliament but it still needs some more time to strengthen its roots.

He said that democracy was the only way to take the country forward towards progress and prosperity. He urged all political parties to work for strengthening of democracy, so it would make the country strong.

The president said the next general election would be held on time in a transparent way, and an independent Election Commission of Pakistan would not let anyone to play any dirty game.

The president said all the necessary measures had been adopted, including preparation of genuine voters’ lists, to hold elections in a free and fair manner. He said it was his pledge to the political parties to make this happen this in letter and spirit.

Zardari said democracy in the country still had some shortcomings and stressed that there was a need to rectify the problems with a collective political vision. He invited the political forces across the country to sit with the government at a discussion platform and give their input on policies for the betterment of people. The would complete its tenure.

He said that politics of PPP was based on reconciliation. He said that he would now sit and stay in Lahore.Referring to violence in Karachi, he said that there was no State failure in the port city. “The elements, which are being crushed in war on terror, are creating law and order problems but we’ll continue their chase”, he said.

The president said law and order situation in Karachi was being deliberately created to divert attention from war against terror. President Asif said the same elements attacked Malala Yousafzai.

The president delivered the first half of his speech in Punjabi. He said “Garhi Khuda Bukhsh will be our last destination”.

Federal ministers Nazar M Gondal, Qamar Zaman Kaira Firdous Ashiq Awan, Ahmad Mukhtar, Manzoor Wattoo, Jehangir Badr, MPA Tanvir Kaira, MNA Tariq Tarrar, Nadeem Afzal Chan were also present on the occasion.

Agency adds: Referring to Pakistan Muslim League leader Mian Nawaz Sharif, the president said though the PML-N had now parted ways with the PPP, it did not mean that the two had become enemies, and that the politics should not be turned into animosity. He said “politics demands to remain steadfast in strengthening democracy”.

President Asif Zardari said that he had delegated his powers to the Parliament which was unprecedented in the country’s history. He said history would prove that the decision was correct. He said that if the country sinks everything else would also go down with it.

He said history has turned in support of the PPP and mentioned that the verdict of Supreme Court in Asghar Khan case also proved that Benazir Bhutto had rightly pointed that the “results of general election were snatched from her”.

He said after Mohtarma’s death, he had pledged to take the party forward.

President Asif Zardari said he had the desire that every child in the country enjoy his rights with equality.“I want that the child of the poor enjoys the same rights as the child of an industrialist,” he said.

The president said his earlier plan to meet the people of Mandi Bahauddin soon after Eid could not be materialised due to unavoidable reasons. He wished the gathering a Happy Eid Mubarak and said they had the every reason to be happy for the development programme he announced for their area.

President Zardari launched development projects worth Rs3.609 billion for the districts, Mandi Bahauddin and Sargodha.The president launched gas projects for Mandi Bahauddin and Sargodha and adjoining areas for Rs1.433 billion and Rs1.469 billion respectively.

He announced a road project worth Rs209 million between Chan Chowk to Roza bridge and another worth Rs174 million in Mandi Bahauddin.The president also announced Rs324 million for the project of Victoria Bridge over the River Jhelum.