Establishing military courts has saved future generations: Zardari

Dawn.com Published January 11, 2015

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said by supporting the formation of military courts his party has helped secure the lives of future generations, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to PPP members during a gathering in Lahore, Zardari said that his party has helped save the country from a civil war.

The former president also said that in the current situation, political parties along with state institutions need to work towards reconciliation.

Zardari said taking the oath of office during the tenure of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was necessary at the time and that one has to be realistic while making decisions.

He said the PPP was the country’s largest political party and cannot be weakened.

He also announced during the gathering that the PPP would hold rallies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa and other parts of Pakistan.

Recently, the former president had said that his party would support the government’s counter-terrorism measures, including the establishment of military courts.

However, during Benazir Bhutto's death anniversary on December 27, 2014, Zardari had warned that under the new law on military courts one could not rule out the possibility of both him and Prime Minister Nawaz ending up behind bars.

He later had mollified his stand by demanding assurances that the new law would not be used against “any political party, scholar or journalist”.

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Addy

Jan 11, 2015 08:51pm

Please tell this to Raza Rabbani as well. I hope he would understand you.

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I. Ahmed

Jan 11, 2015 08:54pm

Whose generations? Yours or mine?

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sid

Jan 11, 2015 09:11pm

How have they saved future generations?, they haven't even been fully set-up yet. They need to get a move on and try Mr lal Masjid and his associates in a military court and convict him. Only then can you say future generations have been saved

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F Khan

Jan 11, 2015 09:20pm

I like many am anti zardari. but will have to admit that zardari has shown a positive attitude by supporting the government in establishing military courts in spite of resistance in his party. lets appreciate people where they deserve it.ppp is in majority in the senate and he could have blocked the 21st amendment very easily. in the process he has also proven that he does not think like JI, PTI and JUI.this war is like fighting shadows and will require all leaders and parties to join hands leaving aside their personal differences and political conflicts.

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Basit

Jan 11, 2015 09:50pm

Military courts will lead to a military dictatorship. This country will turn into Egypt. A dictatorship in the guise of a democratic government.

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Raja

Jan 11, 2015 09:58pm

This is a good start but PPP needs to be cleaned up.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Jan 11, 2015 10:02pm

Please tell this to your co-chairman as well. He seems to disagree with his father.

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Sajjad Ali Gopang

Jan 11, 2015 10:23pm

PPP is no more Largest, it has lost its repution because of your performance.

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BRR

Jan 11, 2015 10:24pm

The naivete of some people.

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syed wasim haider

Jan 11, 2015 10:26pm

Nation is completely confused and so are the political leaders which is very very dangerous.

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Jan 11, 2015 10:29pm

Please do something to help Pakistan rather than issuing statements every day

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pathanoo

Jan 11, 2015 10:43pm

You know, Mr. Zardari; you may be right .

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Mohammad Akhtar

Jan 11, 2015 10:52pm

I never liked Zardari or believed him but this time he is right that by establishing military courts will save future generations.

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BigBoss

Jan 11, 2015 10:58pm

Strengthening terrorism laws and and empowering judiciary could have acheived the same goal. Don't know why these leaders are hailing this anti-democratic move.

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Moazzam

Jan 11, 2015 11:05pm

PPP has a clear stance. Military courts is a bitter pill that needs to be swallowed because religious extremism is the cancer that needs to be eradicated.

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Asif Kamil

Jan 12, 2015 12:36am

First time he talked sense.

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faisal

Jan 12, 2015 12:39am

Haha baap in favor beta dekahay tevor

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where2GO

Jan 12, 2015 12:43am

@F Khan , all parties including ppp had no choice but to support military courts after being given a shut up call.

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Jawad

Jan 12, 2015 01:57am

@I. Ahmed Of course he is talking about his generations.

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Muhammad

Jan 12, 2015 02:11am

Despite my reservations about him I feel that he is talking sense!

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Ahmad

Jan 12, 2015 02:26am

Mr Zadari, have you spared anything for future generations?

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Tamza

Jan 12, 2015 03:18am

Your statement is true ONLY IF all corrupt politicians including the past and present politicians are tried in the same courts ... CORRUPTION is the WORST kind of terrorism, because it is what GIVES RISE to the violence that we usually call terrorism

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Tamza

Jan 12, 2015 03:20am

@Moazzam CORRUPTION is the REAL cancer that must be eradicated. Religious extremism will die when the citizens see hope and progress, which will ONLY happen when corruption is eliminated.

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TARIQ

Jan 12, 2015 03:36am

So what stopped you from doing this while you were in power Mr. Zardari?

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Shahpur

Jan 12, 2015 04:03am

Does the Military Courts have Jurisdiction over the Robbers and Looters of the National Assets of Pakistan?

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Naeem sajjad

Jan 12, 2015 05:29am

Few days ago,he was scared of military courts but now favouring it.It exhibits the duplicity of our politicians,one of them is fazlur rehman.

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Nadeem

Jan 12, 2015 05:45am

@BigBoss Only if the military courts will try all extremist whether from media ,mosque or madrasahs and political religious parties. Otherwise the future generation I doomed in becoming either victims of terrorism or becoming terrorists. All hate speeches and and vilification of any other religion must be banned.

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akhlaq ahmed

Jan 12, 2015 06:01am

A big fraud

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Tupac

Jan 12, 2015 06:38am

"Zardari had warned that under the new law on military courts one could not rule out the possibility of both him and Prime Minister Nawaz ending up behind bars." -- DAWN I think most Pakistani's would agree that this is one benefit of military courts.

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