Asif Zardari, Co-Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party has said his party will take forward peace process with India. In an interview with "Hindustan Times" published on Monday, Asif Zardari said this peace process was initiated by the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972 and reaffirmed by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto in her talks with Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
When asked about composite dialogue process initiated by President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004, he said it was not initiated by President Pervez Musharraf rather it was started by Zulifkar Ali Bhutto in 1972.
"The PPP is bound by its legacy and its policy that is infinite. It's not time oriented or individual specific." Bhutto always had good relations with the Gandhi family," Asif Zardari said adding "Rahul Gandhi called up to condole. There was a talk of a meeting in Dubai (after Benazir's assassination) but the dates didn't work out."
Referring to his party's commitment to fight terror, he said Pakistan is directly at threat. Public opinion was already there against it. "It just has to be gathered along with the strength to fight it."
To a question how close are you to forming the government with the PML-N and other like-minded parties, he said his party had an assurance from Nawaz Sharif and two or three other parties, including the Awami National Party, JUI (F) and the MQM to form the government.
"Nothing is free in politics. One has to share power", he replied when asked whether these parties would share power or support the PPP from outside. When asked whether Nawaz Sharif would come around to his stand to institutionalise the judiciary's independence and right-size the Presidency's powers, he said Nawaz Sharif was with us on this stance.
Replying to a question that there is a view that the new incumbent should be from Sindh to address the alienation there after Benazir's assassination, he said his party did not believe in provincialism.
"Let's not restrict the choice to any one factor. We had the most competent PM any country could aspire in my Shaheed wife. But she wasn't PM because she was from Sindh. She was PM because she was competent."
Answering a question whether the PPP-ruled Pakistan would remain a frontline player in the war against terror, he said Pakistan was a frontline state because of its (geo-political) situation. "We are at threat, the world is behind us. Our first task is to save ourselves from this problem of terrorism. Pakistan cannot help but be serious about it." he said.
When asked about his political plan to save Pakistan from terrorism, Asif Zardari said the people of Pakistan had fed up with it. Originally, it was novel phenomenon and it was happening elsewhere. Now it was hitting at home, hurting people and making them react. "There is room for building public opinion against terrorism. The opinion is there already. It just has to be gathered along with the strength to fight it."
When asked whether he would enter Parliament through a by-poll, Asif Zardari said he was in a very honourable position as the leader of Pakistan's largest political party. In this position he can do more work for the party, for Pakistan and for democracy.
To another question he said Pakistan was a very difficult country to govern. "The situation we find ourselves in is very difficult. But wherever there are problems, there is (scope for) resolution."
Answering a question whether Benazir's absence make you feel lonely sometimes, Zardai said "what do mean lonely? We are lost without her. Her memories are strewn all over. The walls, the people around, remind me of her. In spirit, she will always be with us and lead us. I'm not leading the party, she is leading it from Garhi Khuda Bux."