Pakistan Prez Asif Ali Zardari hints at early elections

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Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday hinted that the general elections will be held before time - an offer not acceptable to the Opposition parties who want polls immediately.

Addressing the joint session of the Parliament, President Zardari vowed that the general election will be held in a free and fair manner ‘during the new parliamentary year’ that started with his address.

"We are starting a new parliamentary year. During this period, we will see free and fair election," the President said.

The Opposition parties led by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) raised slogans during Zardari’s address seeking change. They later walked out of the house. Zardari said legislation had been made to "make the democracy more transparent and ensure that the elections are fair and free".

The President, who is also the co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), fully backed beleaguered Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who faces possible ouster from power for contempt of court.

Prime Minister Gilani has been ordered by the court to write to the Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against President Zardari by March 21 without seeking any advice from the ministries or legal aides.

As the time is drawing near for the government to write letter to Swiss authorities, the ruling party has firmed up its game plan to deal with any possible verdict of the Supreme on non-compliance of its order against Prime Minister Gilani.

The President said that Gilani has led the government well terming him as able leader. He also acknowledged the role of other leaders and the opposition parties to strengthen democracy.

"And today, the Prime Minister, the chief executive, enjoys full authority as required by law. This was a shining moment for our parliament. History will remember this achievement. Just as the nation remembers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the architects of the 1973 Constitution," he added.

President Zardari said that he feels honoured to address the joint session of the parliament for a record fifth time.

The President said that he believes that democracy is flourishing in Pakistan and congratulated PM Gilani for moving the country forward.

President Zardari said that the PPP led government adopted the policy of reconciliation and took all the parties on board. He said that the government would ensure transparent elections in future.

Zardari said that the country has inherited terrorism, war and energy crises. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, PML-N’s chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad did not come to listen to the presidential address.

However, army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other services chiefs were in the guest gallery to watch Zardari address the house. It is a democratic norm that the President addresses the joint session of the parliament, at the start of every New Year of the National Assembly which has five-year constitutional term. During his address, President Zardari will highlight the salient features of the last four years of the government.

Zardari said the government has successfully met enormous challenges, established rule of law and assured supremacy of the Parliament. He said the government has ‘moved with speed and determination’ to strengthen the Federation by redressing imbalance between powers of the Centre and the provinces.

President Zardari became the country’s first head of state as he addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament for the fifth time.

"This is the first time in our history that an elected President is addressing the joint sitting for the fifth time," Zardari told the house.

President Zardari said the world can see that the march of democracy was going on with the institutions working smoothly. "Together, we are creating history. While a lot more needs to be done, a strong beginning has been made," he said.

Later, PML-N’s leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters that Mr Zardari had pushed the country towards disaster.

"We cannot tolerate it anymore. We will not allow this corrupt government to continue," he said. He added, "The President’s speech about the achievements of the government was nothing more than a pack of lies".

Khan said the PML-N want immediate elections to elect a representative government as the PPP is playing with the future of the country.