* President calls on joint sitting of parliament to pass 18th Amendment Bill without delay
* Each pillar of state must work within constitutional domain
* Govt believes in reconciliation, not confrontation
* Democracy fragile, but not irresponsible
By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday described reconciliation as the way forward, and hoped that the 18th Amendment will lead to “new beginnings”.
Zardari made the comments while addressing a joint sitting of parliament convened to launch the current government’s third parliamentary year.
“The people of Pakistan are ...waiting for this crucial reforms bill to pass. This initiative must lead to new beginnings,” said the president. He urged parliament to pass the 18th Amendment Bill without delay, as the document would make the constitution “truly democratic and federal in character and guarantee rights and sovereignty for provinces”.
Own domain: He asked all pillars of state to work within their constitutional domains. “For the sake of stability and development, each organ of state must work within the parameters defined by the constitution. We believe in reconciliation ...not confrontation.” He said while some considered democracy in Pakistan to be fragile, it was “not irresponsible”.
He said the government believed in transparent and across-the-board accountability. “The government believes in transparent accountability for all that is across the board and not selective ... let everybody be judged by the same yardstick,” he said.
He said reforms in FATA and amendments to the Frontier Crimes Regulation had been finalised, and “these reforms will be implemented soon”.
“The crisis of confidence has been one of our most serious political challenges,” said Zardari, and mentioned his apology to the people of Balochistan in this context. He said 2010 should be about developing national consensus on holding local bodies elections.
The president said the government would fight militancy to the end. “Extremism has been the greatest threat to our national security in recent times,” he said.
He assured lawmakers that the government would not allow Pakistani soil to be used for terrorist attacks against any other country. “We will also not allow anyone to undermine our sovereignty.”
He called for “an honourable and peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes” with India. He said the strategic dialogue with the US was aimed at addressing Pakistan’s core issues.
About Afghanistan, he said Pakistan strongly supported an Afghan-led reconciliation and reconstruction process in the neighbouring country.
The president said the government would continue efforts for a “Marshall plan” to rebuild Pakistan and the region.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\04\06\story_6-4-2010_pg1_1
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