September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Senators from both sides of the divide on Monday greeted Asif Ali Zardari on winning the presidential election and urged him to restore the judiciary to its pre-Nov 3 position, repeal the 17th Amendment and change foreign policy.

Abolition of 58(2)b, provincial autonomy, end of terrorism and extremism and control of inflation and power crises were some of the other demands.

Interestingly, the house which was expected to dispose of the private members’ day agenda, allowed lawmakers to congratulate Mr Zardari without even suspending the rules of business.

Leader of the House, Mian Raza Rabbani, said that one of the top priorities of Mr Zardari was recovery of missing people in Balochistan.

“Hundreds of mothers in Balochistan are yearning to see their dear ones back to their homes and Mr Zardari will take up the matter as expeditiously as possible.”

He said that establishment of rule of law, improvement of economy and striking a balance between powers of the prime minister and the president were other priorities of the president-elect.

The acting chairman of Senate, Jan Mohammad Jamali, stressed the need for collective efforts to meet the challenges faced by the country.

Dr Mohammad Saaed of Jamaat-i-Islami said that it was a good sign that Mr Zardari had made his way to the presidency on the strength of popular support.

He said Mr Zardari was assuming the presidency at a time when the country was facing numerous problems.

Iqbal Zafar Jhagra of the PML-N said the parliament was now complete after the election of Mr Zardari. He said the biggest challenge before the president-elect was law and order.

He urged Mr Zardari to replace the policy of former president Pervez Musharraf with a process of “sustained dialogue”.

Wasim Sajjad of the PML-Q said: “It is a very difficult time and Mr Zardari will have to utilise all his abilities to cope with the challenges in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.” He urged Mr Zardari to quit the party post.

Abdur Rahim Mandokhail and Raza Mohammad Raza of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party urged Mr Zardari to avoid “imposing his decisions” on parliament and work within the parameters of the Constitution.

They attributed the success of democratic forces to the struggle of lawyers, spearheaded by deposed chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Saadia Abbasi of the PML-N said it was a historic opportunity for the PPP to work for the strengthening of democracy and resolution of burning issues.

Tahir Mashhadi of the MQM said Mr Zardari’s election augured well for democracy because he was from a smaller province.

Javed Ashraf Qazi of the PML-Q said Mr Zardari was now no more a president of the PPP or a particular province; he was the president of the entire country, adding that a major challenge before him was insurgency in the tribal region.

Senator Khurshid Ahmed condemned Nato strikes in the tribal areas and said that people had been left with no choice but to prepare themselves for retaliation. “Otherwise, such attempts would continue in future as well.”

Mr Rabbani said the government had categorically informed the international community that “we do not recognise hot pursuit and no one will be allowed to violate territorial, political and economic sovereignty of Pakistan”.