Zardari calls on Parliament to pass 18th Amendment

 ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called on the Parliament to pass the 18th Amendment without any delay.

In his third address to the joint sitting of the Parliament Monday, President Zardari felicitated the nation and all political parties for presenting the landmark 18th Amendment in the parliament.

“We are making history by restoring the 1973 Constitution to its original form.”

The President said the 18th amendment has already been laid in the parliament, terming it an unprecedented show of national solidarity and a great success of the democratic process.

He thanked Babar Awan, the Law Minister and his ministry as well as Raza Rabbani, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR).

“The people of NWFP will finally get an indentity with the renaming of their province as Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa,” he said.

Chief ministers of the Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP, four services chiefs and US ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson are also present on this occasion.

“This is indeed a Benzair Day, a moment to shine her philosophy. It is a milestone to the struggle of people.”

In the past, the pillars of state subverted the Constitution, he said, pledging, “We will uphold the supremacy of the constitution.”

The president stressed that each organ of the state must work within the parameters of the Constitution.

“Our government inherited an ailing economy, energy crisis and circular debt, therefore, the govt had to make many difficult decision to put the economy on the right track.”

For the first time foreign remittances exceeded 800 million dollars last September, he pointed out.

Pointing to the achievement of the incumbent government, he said the NFC Award was finalized with consensus.

Political reforms were made in Gilgit-Baltistan where a woman has been appointed Governor of Gilgit-Balitistan in the name of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He said the Benazir Income Support Program was introduced for eradication of poverty.

“We inherited power shortage of thousands of megawatts and we are mindful of the crippling power crisis which has paralyzed the life.”

The govt is now addressing the problem with the help of private sector.

The Bhasha Dam has been started which will generate 4500 mw of electricity.
He said Thar Coal project has been revived while 32 small and medium dams will be built in the country.

Talking about the water dispute, he said: “We have raised the issue with India.”

Regarding the United Nation’s probe into the assassination of Ms Bhutto, he said: “We will receive the report soon.”

He said the Job quota for the women has been increased.

President Asif Ali Zardari said militancy and extremism has been a greatest threat to our national integrity.

“We are not prepared to surrender,” he asserted, adding, “We will make peace those with those willing to lay down arms but fight with those posing a threat.”

He praised the armed forces and the nation for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

The President said Pakistan has improved relations with all the neighbouring countries.

Later, the Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza prorogued the joint session of the Parliament.