— PPP to support PM Shehbaz who would work to steer Pakistan on path to progress: Zardari
— Despite reservations, MQM-P also jumps bandwagon vowing support to PPP chief
ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition on Thursday threw its weight behind Asif Ali Zardari from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the election as next president.
The endorsement came to light during a gathering hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where members of the National Assembly and Senate from PML-N and its coalition partners were invited to a dinner reception. Lawmakers of coalition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and Istehkam Pakistan Party (IPP) and PML-Q attended.
The event was attended by the joint presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and members of their party including Yousaf Raza Gilani, Senator Raza Rabbani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Khurshid Shah.
MQM Pakistan’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal also participated in the event. Leaders of the IPP, including Awn Chaudhry, and others were also present, while Senator Ishaq Dar of PML-N, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, and other PML-N members of the National Assembly and Senate attended. Among them were Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Khawaja Asif, and Khawaja Saad Rafique.
During the event, PM Shehbaz reiterated his endorsement of Asif Ali Zardari for the presidency, a sentiment echoed and supported by all coalition parties present.
“We will vote for Asif Ali Zardari, and we are united to change the fate of the country,” said the premier while addressing the participants.
“At this time, the country’s economy is facing difficulties. If we all contribute, the crisis will end.”
Speaking to the participants, Asif Ali Zardari expressed his gratitude towards Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and others for nominating him.
“I am the elder among all of you, the challenges facing Pakistan are difficult but their solution is not impossible. Einstein was not afraid of difficult challenges and Shehbaz Sharif is also not afraid of them either,” he remarked.
Zardari pledged his support to Shehbaz Sharif, affirming his commitment to assist him at every level. “Fix agriculture, fix canals and build dams, let us become a force for China, all this is definitely difficult but not impossible, we will make Pakistan prosperous together, God willing,” he added.
On Supreme Court recent verdict in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto murder case, Zardari remarked: “When I filed the reference, no one knew what would happen, but I knew and yesterday everyone saw that history had reversed itself and the judiciary admitted that Bhutto was killed,” he recounted. “Be sure that Allah is with you because without His command nothing can be solved,” he concluded.
On the occasion, Bilawal expressed gratitude to all the coalition parties and Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing that Asif Ali Zardari would make history as the first civilian president of Pakistan to take office for a second term on Saturday.
“Zardari was the strongest president in the country’s history. Despite that, we passed the 18th Amendment and transferred the powers to the prime minister, abolished the power of 58-2(b) and handed it over to the prime minister,” he added.
The PPP chairman expressed optimism that Zardari, once elected president, would unify the nation and resolve societal divisions, as he had done in the past, ultimately strengthening democracy through collaboration with all political parties.
“We must face Pakistan’s challenges together, but we are optimistic about our success,” Bilawal asserted. “We will endeavour to secure victory for our joint candidate (Zardari) with the highest possible number of votes.”
