In his maiden address to Parliament on Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari promised zero tolerance to violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, offered to shed powers usurped by military dictator Gereral Pervez Musharraf, vowed to promote “trade-driven” closer ties with India and resolved to end poverty and hunger by turning around the faltering economy.

In his address read out with considerable verve and conviction, Zardari described his journey from “prison to Presidency” after wading through “river of blood and tears.” He promised to fulfil the mission of his slain wife Banazir Bhutto and vision of her father Z.A. Bhutto to end poverty, disease and hunger in the country and build a free, democratic society with equal rights for all without discrimination of caste, creed, gender or region.

His speech was heard with clapping and thumping of desks across the political divide. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had responded to Zardari’s personal invitation and flew into Islamabad from Lahore. Zardari walked up to Sharif seated in the Presidential enclosure to embrace him immediately after he concluded his address. He was the first President in 18 years since 1990 whose address was heard without any interruption.

Offering to shed his powers accumulated by Pervez Musharraf under the 17th Amendment, including the authority to dissolve Parliament, Zardari proposed a parliamentary committee to make amendment and suggest necessary changes. “Never before in the history of this country has a President given away his powers,” Zardari said amid loud cheers.

But he hurriedly skipped over the issue of restoration of deposed judges and perfunctorily referred to commitment on “independence of judiciary”. It invited a wry comment from Nawaz Sharif, who regretted that the goal of an independent judiciary “never seemed more distant”. Most opposition members said they expected Zardari to announce reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry but he disappointed them.

Zaradri was firm on defending country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and vowed not to allow “any power” to violate it. He committed himself to consolidating close friendly ties with China and Gulf nations and particularly mentioned UAE and Saudi Arabia in this context.

On relations with India, Zardari pledged to carry forward a composite dialogue process for resolution of bilateral issues through peaceful means, including that of Kashmir. He talked about supporting Kashmiri people’s struggle for “fundamental rights” and significantly omitted the traditional expression of “self-determination”. He said both countries were working out plans to promote trade across the line of control in Kashmir and also resolved to strengthen “trade-driver” relations with India and liberalising the visa regime to foster people-to-people contacts.

The President denounced militancy and extremism and reaffirmed commitment to establish writ of the state in the troubled tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. He said Pakistan would remain a strong ally of the international community in its war against terrorism.

But, he said Pakistan would not tolerate violation of its territorial integrity by any world power in the name of combating terrorism. He said force should be the last resort towards fighting militancy and paid tributes to hundreds of Pakistani soldiers, who had laid down their lives in this conflict in the tribal areas.

Referring to the past excesses against Baloch people, the President said tendering an apology to the people of Balochistan and release of nationalist leaders was a long overdue step. Similarly, the President said the people of the northern areas must also get their basic rights.

New York, September 20
Seeking global efforts against conflict, poverty and violation of human rights, the UN has launched a peace campaign through text messages on mobile phones and websites to mark the International Peace Day.

“On September 21, the International Day of Peace, I call on world leaders and people around the world to join forces against conflict, poverty and hunger, and for all human rights for all,” said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in the text message launched yesterday.

The effort is part of a UN campaign that urges cell phone users in the US to compose peace messages to be published on a website and delivered to world leaders gathered for the General Assembly beginning next week.

Renowned violinist Midori Goto was appointed UN’s messenger of peace in yesterday’s ceremony, which was kicked off with the traditional ringing of the peace bell.

The secretary-general noted that the day has special significance as 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights by the UN.

Later, Ban and president of the 63rd session of the General Assembly Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann welcomed more than 700 participants in a students’ conference on Peace and Human Rights organised by the UN’s public information department.

Asking the students to utilise the chance to speak out about their concerns and think about their future as well as the future of this world, the secretary-general said today’s generation had powers of social networking that his generation could “hardly comprehend”. — PTI

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