President emphasizes need for fostering atmosphere of political reconciliation
Urges for dialogue, parliamentary consensus to steer country out of crisis
ISLAMABAD, (NNI): President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized the need for fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and political reconciliation by embracing the vision of great leaders including Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Addressing the first joint session of the Parliament since he assumed office last month in Islamabad Thursday, the President has expressed the confidence this will also help to effectively tackle all the challenges which are not impossible to overcome.
Asif Zardari has said that amid numerous challenges, there was need to promote dialogue, parliamentary consensus besides implementation of rigorous reforms aimed at addressing new and underlying issues being faced by our homeland.
The address is Zardari's record seventh to the joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate amid PTI-Sunni Ittehad's protest who chanted slogans Go Zardari Go but failed to deter the President.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani, Bilawal Bhutto, Aseefa Bhutto, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti and ambassadors of China and United Kingdom were also present during the joint session of the parliament.
Speaking to both houses of the Parliament, Zardari expressed his sincerest gratitude to all parliamentarians and provincial assembly members for their trust and confidence in electing him for a second time as the president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Referring to the 18th Amendment brought during his previous tenure, Zardari claimed that he himself handed over his powers to parliament, adding that he wished those powers should be used with the wisdom and maturity for the betterment of the country.
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 we can invest in our strength and people by focusing on public needs," he added.
The president stressed that the country needed its leaders to move from the polarisation so common, to contemporary politics. "This sacred house must play a role in rebuilding confidence," he asserted.
President further said, "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 and ex-premiers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said the challenges being faced by the country were not impossible to overcome.