President Asif Ali Zardari to create new political history

In quite a rare achievement by a civilian head of state, President Asif Zardari is ready to deliver a record fifth address to a joint sitting of the Parliament on Saturday.

At the same time, the presidency successfully persuaded the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to step back its threat to disrupt the session.

The president’s address to the parliament will mark the beginning of the final parliamentary year. Amidst serious problems, the head of the state will give a synopsis of the government’s accomplishments and performance, besides giving guidelines to the executive for further betterments.

The People’s Party, in order to make the joint session successful, has built up the occasion as a democratic landmark in the country’s short democratic history. One major reason is that President Asif Ali Zardari is also the co-chairman of the ruling PPP.

The rift between the civilian government and the military establishment has lessened, but the investigation into the infamous memogate case continues with the potential to bring the two to a showdown.

However, the president, in his speech, will concentrate on the government’s four-year performance to respond to his opponents’ criticism of rampant corruption, economic shakiness, worsening law and order situation and the executive’s inability to provide relief to the common man.

At the same, the head of state will also cover the country’s foreign policy in the current geo-strategic environment, particularly the relations with the United States and the neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and India.

In the past, the opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had cooperated with the incumbent, listening to the presidential address without resorting to bench-thumping and creating rowdy scenes.

However, it is expected they may give Asif Ali Zardari a tough time in the joint-sitting of the final parliamentary year.

On Friday, the MQM announced that it would boycott the presidential-address, but withdrew their decision in the late night after the President made a telephonic conversation with MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

According to the reports, President Asif Ali Zardari assured the MQM that stern action would be taken against criminals and extortionists.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Mar 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.