News
Saturday, March 26, 2011
PPP to sit in opp if loses masses’ support: Zardari
* President says Pakistan Sweet Homes to be established in every district
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came to power on the basis of its electoral strength and would sit on opposition benches if it lost the support of masses.
“We will remain in power until we have the support of masses, until we have political strength and force, until we have the power of votes,” he remarked while addressing a function on Pakistan Sweet Homes, organised by Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM), at the Presidency on Friday. The president said, “If PPP loses the elections it will sit on opposition benches and that he himself will lead the opposition.”
“We never loved these corridors. PPP never allowed power to dominate its mindset, never thought that it was a ruling party,” Zardari remarked, adding that people voted for the PPP for the sake of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), Benazir Bhutto (BB) and due to the sacrifices of its leaders and workers.
The president also mentioned the sacrifices of PPP workers, who faced various difficulties and were even whipped during the dictatorial rule of General Ziaul Haq. “When I was in jail, I often used to think about the hardships faced by ZAB and BB during their imprisonments,” he said.
The president recalled that BB led a 17-member opposition after the 1996 general elections, adding, “It was her vision regarding the importance of parliament and democracy that needed to be followed by all political forces.”
He said strengthening parliament and democracy was vital for strengthening the country’s institutions, adding, “If PPP had boycotted the 2008 elections after the assassination of BB, it could have weakened the institutions.”
He vowed to serve the masses and said it was the duty of political leadership to serve the country and the nation and strengthen the institutions. Zardari said that a conference of businessmen would be convened next month to work out the establishment of sweet homes in every district of the country, which would be run on a public-private partnership basis.
He made an impassioned appeal to well-off people of the country to step forward and generously support projects such as ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ so that much needed support to the orphans and poor children could be provided.
“There could be no substitute to the blessing of having parents but we can, at least, provide these children with a social cover and an environment to help them stand on their own feet and become asset for society,” Zardari said, adding, “Well-to-do people and philanthropists should contribute generously to filling in the vacuum in the lives of these unfortunate children.”
The president said that taking caring of orphans was a hallmark of an Islamic society. “This is what our religion teaches us,” he said, adding, “This is our religious and national responsibility.” “We will not let down the needy and the poor,” the president vowed.
The president commended the PBM for launching ‘Pakistan Sweet Homes’ project to look after the orphans. “It is heartening to learn that the project is being actively supported by the Pakistani philanthropists,” he said, adding that services of all those involved in this critical social service needed to be acknowledged and praised.
The president said that taking care of the marginalised segments of society was a trait of PPP’s governance, which had always stood and fought for the rights of women, children, poor and dispossessed.” app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk