We shall recommend lifting of governors rule: Zardari hands Punjab back to Sharifs

President Asif Ali Zardari has recommended lifting of Governors rule from Punjab, saying that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would support PML-N candidate for the slot of chief minister, without being part of the provincial government.
-- Dialogue with India must resume
-- Obamas approach represents a positive change
-- Sovereignty of Pakistan must be protected at all costs. It will be.
-- Shows unwillingness to relinquish his powers easily.
"PPP extends full support to candidate of PML (N) for chief ministers office. We will sit in the opposition, and will participate in the legislative process without wrangling with the provincial government of Punjab," said the President while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament here on Saturday. "This will end horse trading. We will not have another Changa Manga," the President said while discreetly referring to 1990s political era of horse trading and confrontation between the PPP and PML-N.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: Zardari, who addressed the joint session of the Parliament for the second time in six months, urged the Parliament to constitute a committee of all political parties to propose amendments in the Constitution in line with the Charter of Democracy (CoD).
"About six months ago, standing here, I had called upon the Parliament to form an all-parties committee to revisit the 17th amendment and Article 58-2(b)," he said, while his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his foreign friends were sitting in guests gallery on his right hand.
"I am conscious of the fact that 6 months is not a long time. The amendments should be finalised without any further delay," Zardari told the parliament while the proceedings were marred by some slogans chanted by PML-Q legislators, as Faisal Saleh Hayat wanted to speak on a point of order before the President began his speech. Raising slogans of "Horse trading murdabad", they walked out of the house briefly before they were brought back by some members of the Cabinet.
BALOCHISTAN: The President said that people of Balochistan feel deprived and neglected. "Let us not give an excuse to our enemies to exploit the deprivations of the people of the province."
He said that he had the mandate from the elected representatives of Balochistan, and urged for setting up of a Parliamentary Committee. "The Committee comprising all political parties should recommend measures for addressing the longstanding issues of Balochistan," he said. The Committee may seek guidance from the work done by a previous Parliamentary Committee, he added.
"These are issues which need to be discussed in the Parliament. I urge the Parliament to frame Balochistan policy, which is sustainable and acceptable to the people of the province. Give them the autonomy they have been demanding for 60 years," said the President as he referred to the development package of 47 billion rupees he had announced for Balochistan.
An enabling environment needs to be created to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of displaced persons in Balochistan who fled their homes recently, he said. Ways and means may be explored for the voluntary return from exile and grant of general amnesty to the political prisoners, he added.
NATIONAL AGENDA Zardari said: "A heavy national agenda awaits you. It is the agenda of protecting democracy, fighting militancy, healing the wounds, and building infrastructure. We have to root out terrorism and extremism".
He said, "We hold the Parliament in the highest esteem. Supremacy of the Parliament has been a dream of our leader. The Charter of Democracy flows from Benazir Bhuttos belief in the supremacy of the Parliament."
He said that Benazir had a dream and a vision. "It was the vision of reconciliation. Reconciliation is the only way forward. We must not remain hostage to the bitterness of the past. We need to bring together the federating units in a spirit of mutual accommodation," the President said.
Services chiefs, governors of NWFP, Punjab, Balochistan, chief ministers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, foreign diplomats including US ambassador attended the session. AJK prime minister Yaqoob and other dignitaries were also present. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry did not attend the session. Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan was also not seen on the occasion.
The press gallery and the guests galleries on first, second and third floors remained jam-packed during the proceedings. However, a number of seats of parliamentarians remained unoccupied during the Presidents address, which suggested that some parliamentarians did not turn up for the joint session.
ECONOMY The government, the President said, had inherited many problems like ailing economy, growing extremism and militancy and judicial crisis from the previous government.
"Significant progress has been achieved in different areas during the last one year. But much more needs to be done. As a result of sound polices, we expect a bumper crop of wheat, rice and cotton this year. Higher procurement price of crops is expected to inject 300 billion rupees in the rural economy." He said that new policies for youth, health and education were in the offing.
BENAZIR INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMME (BISP) He said that bomb blast victims would also be included in the emergency relief package of Rs 34 billion Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). One person from each poor family would be given technical training and financial assistance to enable him to earn respectable living. Under the scheme, money would be given to female head of the family.
For achieving economic growth and employment generation a policy of public-private partnership has been adopted. Over and above the international assistance, another initiative called the Friends of Democratic Pakistan has also been launched. It aims at involving the international community to help Pakistan in areas of internal security, infrastructure development, and poverty alleviation.
In consultation with the coalition partners the government has adopted a three pronged strategy. The strategy is based on making peace with those willing to give up violence, but at the same time to deal firmly with those who challenge the writ of the government.
It also aims at economic development of the affected areas. A national Counter-Terrorism Authority has been set up. With the help of Friends of Democratic Pakistan the government would raise 20,000 additional police force in each province with special equipment and pay package, he added.
"The US Presidents new approach represents a positive change. It is an endorsement of our call for economic and social uplift as a means to fight extremism. We are fighting militancy and extremism for our own sake. We will continue to do so for the sake of our children," Zardari said.
The Government will not allow the use of its soil for terrorist activities against any other country. We will also not allow anyone to violate our sovereignty. Sovereignty of Pakistan must be protected at all costs, he added.
The nation is proud of the sacrifices of the members of the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Police and the citizens in enforcing the writ of the government. "Many of them laid down their lives, so that you and me must live, and the nation lives on," he said.
MISSING PERSONS The government has traced and located about 200 persons who were earlier reported missing. Under the Benazir Tractor Scheme 20,000 tractors will be provided to farmers at subsidised rates, he said.
MEDIA The government, he said, was committed to upholding the freedom of the press and media. The government has plans to work with all stakeholders for creating an atmosphere of self-regulation without state interference. The government also intends to set up a Journalist Victims Fund.
NAB and FATA In line with the Charter of Democracy a law is being drafted for creating a transparent system of accountability to replace the NAB Ordinance. After extensive consultations with all stakeholders recommendations for amendments in the FCR have been finalised.
UN PROBE The assassination of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was not merely a conspiracy against democracy and peoples rule in Pakistan. "We had two options: either to undertake investigation on our own or to request investigation through an impartial international body because of its international dimensions.
An international investigation is the best way to expose a conspiracy that is international in character. It is hoped that the UN investigations would soon expose all the hands and minds behind the conspiracy, said Zardari.
JUDICIARY The government believes in the independence of judiciary. People have made great sacrifices for the cause of an independent judiciary. The Prime Minister in his first address released the deposed judges from unlawful detention. In the second stage, the salaries and privileges of the deposed judges were restored. And ultimately the government has restored all the judges.
FOREIGN POLICY The foreign policy objectives of the government are to promote regional and international peace and security and ensure the economic and social development of our people.
Greater emphasis is therefore placed on the economic dimension of relations with other countries. Economic relations with China were taken to new heights with the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement last month. "During my visit to Afghanistan in January this year a Joint Declaration on Directions in Bilateral Co-operation was concluded. We believe in peace with honour.
"We are proposing a more liberal visa regime and plan to establish more facilities for the visiting Sikh and Hindu pilgrims. We will continue to seek peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. We hope that the composite dialogue process will be revived soon."
DEMOCRACY He said that democracy has yet to gain strength. "For democracy to gain strength we need to work in a spirit of harmony and reconciliation. Discussion and debate in this august House represents collective national wisdom. We have many challenges to face. The sea is rough and the weather turbulent. Let not democracy be derailed for any reasons through street demonstrations in Lahore or Islamabad. Pakistan has many challenges. What it does not need is a challenge from within to democracy. Let us put an end to challenging each other. We have many challenges from outside and let be friends once again and forever," the President said.