Leader of the House in Senate Muhammad Jehangir Bader on Tuesday reiterated that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would continue its policy of reconciliation in the light of vision given by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for strengthening of democracy and democratic institutions in the country.
Concluding debate on the presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament, he said PPP believes in democracy and its leaders had rendered supreme scarifies for flourishing and promotion of real democracy in the country.
It was the political acumen of President Zardari that he promoted a culture of reconciliation when the country was passing through a critical juncture of its history in 2007, he said, adding that the politics of reconciliation was the need of the hour to unite the country, masses and avert collision among the state institutions.
Lauding all the members for taking parts in the debate, Bader said the president made a history by addressing the parliament for five consecutive years. However, he said the opposition members only directly criticised his personality in their speeches.
Bader said the president in his addresses had out rightly pointed out towards holding of free, fair and transparent elections in the country. The PPP considers masses are main source of power in democracy and it would respect the people’s mandate, he added.
Bader reiterated that the PPP would continue its struggle to raise the living standard of the people and put the country on track of progress and prosperity.
He said Asif Ali Zardari was the first president in the country’s history who himself surrendered his power to the parliament.
Regarding foreign and economic policies, he said the foreign policy was revisited under the guidelines given the parliament and the president had mentioned 11 points in his address for revival of economy.
He assured the House that PPP would not disappoint the people and would continue efforts for their betterment as it did in past despite so many challenges.
Earlier, PML-N lawmaker Syed Zafar Ali Shah criticised the government and said the presidential address that he said lacked any clear guidelines towards independent foreign and economic policies.
He was of the view that government was completely failed to deliver and remained engaged in confrontation with other institutions during the past three years.
He said the Supreme Court referred back all ordinances promulgated by General Musharraf to the parliament by realizing its supremacy and the parliament had also thrown away all such ordinances promulgated by the dictator. Hamza while taking part in the debate said the country had economically collapsed and the government was printing currency notes to bridge the deficit which was causing inflation.
