PESHAWAR: President Asif Ali Zardari addressed a special session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday – the first time a Pakistani head of state has addressed the provincial assembly.

Upon his arrival in Peshawar, the president was received by Khyber Pakthunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti.

During his speech, the president condemned the attack on former Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed’s convoy. Appreciating the sacrifices rendered by the police and the people of KP in the fight against terrorism, he said that the void left by the withdrawal of the Army from the region would eventually have to be filled by the police.

President Zardari also appreciated the KP assembly, saying that the completion of five years by the provincial assembly was an example of maturity and patience. He added that the path of democracy was in the country’s interest country and hoped that future generations would continue on the same path.

President Zardari addressed the provincial assembly session at the invitation of the Chief Minister and Speaker of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. KP Assembly speaker Karamatullah Chagharmati had invited the president to address the KP assembly during the SAARC conference in Islamabad.