President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said the Pakistan People’s Party had endured a blatant “campaign of slander”, but the party had decided to let the people judge the government’s performance.
“Let them judge whether we have been criticized justly or subjected to a campaign of slander,” Zardari said while addressing the 22nd APNS Award Ceremony at the Presidency on Monday.
He said they had decided not to be provoked and would not be provoked in the future, adding that “we have not taken any action against anyone and will continue with the same”. The president said we have extended the hand of friendship to all political forces, the media and all stakeholders and felt satisfied that this policy of the government had started paying dividends.
He said, “Our people are wise and let us not underestimate their wisdom. They can differentiate between freedom of expression and an organized campaign of slander and that the people respond in their own ways. They respond by placing their trust or withdrawing it.” The president said the party was proud of its record in giving the country a consensus constitution as for the first time in 25 years after independence. He said they had even been a subject to campaigns of character assassination and “now the prime minister and his family members are the latest target of a smear campaign”.
“Yousaf Raza Gilani has become a target ever since he raised the slogan of Seraiki province and ever since he stood by me. Before that, he was acceptable. But since he started supporting me and the Seraiki province, he has become unacceptable,” Zardari said. The president said the future of Pakistan was inextricably linked to continuation of democracy, adding that the PPP was a party of the masses and it had been proven time and again.
Salaries: Zardari urged the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) to look into the issues of payment of salaries to workers and journalists, besides implementation of the 8th Wage Board Award and the setting up of the 9th Wage Board.
Recalling his meeting with the APNS last year and the demands raised therein, Zardari expressed pleasure that the Press Council of Pakistan had since been set up and its chairman had been appointed. He said that it was now for the Press Council to move forward and move fast in consultation with all stakeholders, adding that “we look forward to the progress the council will be making in the months and years ahead”. Commenting on the second demand of the APNS, the president expressed pleasure that the Ministry of Information had taken the ownership of the Freedom of Information Act from the Cabinet Division and said that there was consensus to repeal the old ordinance of 2002, and bring in a new act of parliament.
The president said he believed in providing genuine access to information for the sake of transparency and accountability and called upon the Information Ministry to expedite finalization of the bill and its tabling in the parliament at the earliest.
Referring to the current energy issues, the president said the government was conscious of the problems that still needed to be resolved, including the energy crisis. “The energy crisis is the result of the circular debt that was left behind by the previous government,” the president, adding that during Benazir’s second government, Pakistan had surplus electricity and could even export power to India.
I have often wondered that if zardari is innocent of corruption and money laundering, why isn't he vigorously defending his name? Why isn't he on every talk show and news conference defending his name? Instead, I don't even see him making any comments about the money is swiss banks. He should come out and tell us if that money is his or not and if it is his, then tell us how did he earn it. Why is so silent on the subject? Makes me wonder…….
The fact that it has invoked only one comment speaks volumes about what the public
thinks about PPP and its co chairman.
The public tsunami will give its thumping unambiguous, prompt ruling when the time comes & will sweep away all these manipulators into the abysmal depth of oblivion. Enough of exploitation & plundering of national resources, the public has been subjected to at the hands of these plunderers.
He has the money that belongs to Pakistani people. He took all the $$US in fund flood and Army protection and open route by air and land, then he pocket all the monies in $$. Catch this man before he flee the country. You can see he almost took off before, you recall? When he went to Dubai on medical excuse and then he wanted to go to USA. But then he has all the Bhutto properties as well Benazir billions. He is not for people. This is all I hear about him. Now our Lord knows better
Why isn't the press pressuring him to answer wether he owns this money or not? I think we would be much further along if we force him to either accept or deny if its his money. If its not his, then why is the govt. so adamant to not want to re open the swiss bank case?
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