Fata-KP merger a stepping stone towards progress in region, says Zardari
Praising the passage of Fata-KP merger bill from the National Assembly and Senate, PPP-Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said, "Merger is a stepping stone toward further progress."
While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Zardari observed that the entire parliament deserved appreciation for the historic move. He also chose to specially mention former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar for his efforts for Fata reforms.
He also recounted the efforts of PPP government as well as those of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for envisioning the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
When asked about former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's allegations about Zardari approaching him for Pervez Musharraf's indemnity, the former president categorically denied any such meeting, adding that it was in fact he [Zardari] who had forced the former dictator out of office.
He noted that Sharif says one thing while does the other, which was evident from Musharraf case in which "his [Nawaz] government said that Musharraf should be allowed to leave" when asked by the court.
Zardari also claimed that he was the only personality, which the international community was prepared to accept as a replacement for Musharraf for the presidency.
Zardari said that he had allowed PML-N to make the government in Punjab in 2008 to have the party on board so Nawaz could take certain decisions, including the ouster of Musharraf.
The former president refuted the impression that the PPP had been let off the hook by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and said that his people were still facing cases and were in jails while none of the PML-N leaders has so far reached jail.
"We are not with the establishment, we are with the country," he said, demanding that Sharif should clarify whether he was with the country or with some other outside force.
Comments (18) Closed
Look who is talking
If this guy comes back to power then he is genius and people are foolish & hopeless!
Everyone likes to take credit, what did ZAB, Benazir or Asif ali Zardari did to table the merger resolution during their reign. Real credit goes to Imran Khan for his performance as an excellent all rounder and ofcourse the honest and unbiased judiciary that the nation is seeing so many changes and developments. Pakistan is on the right track now.
PPP's alliance with more powerful sources may have given them the status of political party of saints for now but there are many stones that are to be turned for PPP. For example Ozair Baloach's JIT report, Ayyan Ali's money laundering case, Mega Corruption cases involving Sindh government etc.
Excuse me what you mean acceptable to international community, I thought it was a decision for Pakistan and it’s people.
Zardari is the greatest fortune hunter that we ever had. He is $ 450 million or Rs 5,400 crore richer than Nawaz Sharif and nobody dare ask him about his sudden rise to that riches.
This corrupt to the core Zardari wants to take credit for all FATA merger.
Asif is a master at stating the obvious. What the merger may very well do is bring more support of the people of the former Northwest Territories to the army now they feel like citizens of the country.
What does he know about FATA when he has never been near it?
@M. Saeed - A google search reveals Zardari is currently valued at USD 1.8 billion and Nawaz Sharif has an estimated net worth of USD 1.4 billion. Both are mega rich and yes not thorough legitimate means. But by highlighting just the difference only, you are being economical with the truth!
Zardari is next after Nawaz chapter.
Zaradari can credit himself nobody stopped him, but people know it's IK who started this campaign till merger.
@nafis .And from whose mouth these words are spelt out. Fortunately AAZ is lucky to get cleared from several serious of corruption and money, he is more smart than NS,and his legal team very shrewd, they used all possible attempt to save their client, even documents from court files got missing and sometimes the original files vanished, the construed files of photo copies cannot be accepted by courts as maintainable. Hence he got scot free.
Does anyone sensible trust zardari?
He zardari not a saint but also a corrupt politician. NAB must start investigation on him right after Nawaz.
@M. Saeed
Mr. M. Saeed,
And NAB is still doing nothing against Zardari-
Family.
He is looking how much money his clans can make in KP Fata merger.
How much welfare work PPP is doing in FATA.? Only J.I is active in welfare work. Who will rebuild FATA after this cruel war.?