No fear of democracy’s derailment: Zardari
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said no one should underestimate the will of people of Pakistan, the resilience of its institutions and the commitment of the democratic leadership to address the challenges and steer Pakistan towards greater stability and economic progress and prosperity.
In a statement just before leaving on a two day visit to Iran the President said that while the political process evolved in a vibrant and strident manner, there was no fear of democracy’s derailment.
All stakeholders are committed to ensuring the success and sustainability of the democratic process in the country, he said.
The people of Pakistan emphatically reject the aspersions cast on the stability of the country and its democratic institutions by inimical forces, he said.
‘Such propaganda can only be purveyed by our detractors. We have met the challenges of extremism and terrorism head on. In fact, we have carried the burden of others. We have the capacity to effectively meet these challenges,’ Zardari said.
‘Pakistan is today a vibrant and functioning democracy with a free media and a dynamic civil society. We have an ongoing energetic public discourse. The democratic process and our institutional capacity are gaining strength. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it.’
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government has always held high the banner of democracy and, after a glorious struggle, has succeeded in ushering in a democratic era, he said.
‘Pakistan's international conduct is reflective of the ethos of our people, who place a high premium on dignity and self respect and wholeheartedly believe in the vision and promise of the United Nations and an international society based on the norms of peace and stability as enshrined in the Charter. Pakistan does not believe in the policies of expediency. This is in fact our greatest asset.’
The President said despite all the challenges ‘our economy is resilient. Our fundamentals are strong. We have a large and talented workforce. The country has vast resources waiting to be fully tapped,’ he said.
The Pakistan Peoples Party draws its strength from the people of Pakistan and is not only a repository of their trust but also epitomises their hopes and aspirations, he said.
‘Our focus on fighting extremism and terrorism remains strong and cannot be diluted. The people of Pakistan have made tremendous sacrifices in this fight and are determined to see the return of peace, stability and prosperity in the region,’ he said.
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