No constitutional bar on President to hold two offices: Babar Awan

ISLAMABAD, May 19 : Law Minister Babar Awan has said that the President can hold two offices simultaneously and there is no constitutional bar on him.

Winding up debate in the Senate Wednesday on the Presidential address to the Parliament, Babar Awan strongly criticized thoe who have raised controversy that the President should leave the post of co-chairman of PPP.

He said it is the people who will decide regarding decisions taken during our regime in the next elections and we will accept their verdict.

He said that third address of the President to the parliament reflects that roots of democracy are being strengthened in the country. He said the presidential address was a road map for the government following that it will move forward on its political, economic and democratic agenda.

Babar Awan said that it is the credit of President Asif Ali Zardari and the present government who took along all political forces and removed all distortions from the constitution made by the dictators.

He said the President fulfilled his all promises by implementing Charter of Democracy signed between Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

He said the present government believes in across the board accountability and he himself will appear before the Supreme Court on 25th of this month to respond the government’s point of view on implementation of NRO which reflects the respect the government gives to the judiciary.

He said the government has never adopted a malice attitude against anyone and today there is no political prisoner in the country.

He said it is time to look into future and work for progress and prosperity of the country. He said today Pakistan enjoys a strong democracy and expressed the confidence that the country has made a significant progress in all fields of life during the last two years.

Babar Awan said Pakistan was un-governable when the present government took over and was facing a serious threat of terrorism but the government under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari took bold steps and now the terrorists are on the run.

He said we accepted all challenges and now national economy has been revived and it is moving towards sustainable growth and stability.

He said our two years record reflects from the victory of People’s Party in all the provinces in the by-elections. He said we will work hard and deliver to the people during the next three years to resolve their problems and will accept people verdict in the next elections. He expressed the confidence that President Zardari will address the Parliament in 2013 after his re-election.

Babar Awan said President Asif Ali Zardari is a symbol of federation. He is a courageous man who knows how to deal with the challenges.

He asked the opposition to adopt a positive attitude and stop hitting below the belt and targeting some personalities besides working for flourishing democracy and resolving public issues.

Babar Awan condemned competition based on blasphemous cartoons by some foreign countries and said the government will take the issue at international level. He said we can not bear blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He termed freedom of expression in Europe as freedom of deferment.

Taking part in the debate Muhammad Ismail Buledi emphasized the need for strengthening of State institutions that would help improving governance in the country. He also urged the government to review the foreign policy and protect national interest while dealing with other country especially the United States .

Surriya Amiruddin appreciated the government particularly President Asif Ali Zardari for giving Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan besides financial resources to the province. She said the President proved to be a visionary leader who surrendered voluntarily his powers to the parliament and paved way for true parliamentary federalism in the country.

Zahid Khan commended the government for its integrated efforts to root out terrorists, improving economy, giving provincial autonomy to the provinces, consensus NFC Award and launching Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan. He thanked the government and the whole nation for giving identity to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khalid Mehmood Soomro described 18th constitutional amendment as a positive step for strengthening democracy. He demanded equal distribution of resources to the rural and urban areas of Sindh province to ensure sustainable socio-economic development in rural areas of the province.