No entity will be allowed to use neighbouring soil to undermine our peace, vows President
Joint session of Parliament
Urges India to pursue dialogue or face ‘another humiliating defeat’
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday addressed a joint sitting of Parliament amid a ruckus by members of the opposition, saying that Pakistan would not “allow any entity, domestic or foreign to use neighbouring territory to destabilise our peace”.
This was his ninth address to a joint session of Parliament in his capacity as president. His address was punctuated with sloganeering from the opposition, who chanted, “Go, Zardari, go” and “Khan ko reha karo (free Imran Khan)”.
At one point, the opposition gathered in front of the speaker’s dias and continued to raise slogans.
President Zardari began his address by saying that it was his “singular privilege” to address the house for the ninth time at the beginning of the new parliamentary year.
“Each such address is a reminder of the continuity of the democratic system and the responsibility we carry as representatives of the people of Pakistan,” he said.
“The past year has reminded us that the strength of our republic lies in its Constitution,” he said.
“As we gather here today, we stand on the foundation laid by those who shaped our national journey,” he said. He said that the founder of the nation, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had envisoned a democratic state rooted in constitutionalism and the rule of law.
“The last time I was president, I unilaterally returned the powers given to the presidency back to the House of Parliament as envisioned in the 1973 Constitution, through the 18th Amendment,” he said.
“Today, the presidency stands as a symbol of unity … a bridge between federating units and a guardian of constitutional law,” he said.
He further said that the past ten months had tested the nation in “profound and complex ways”. He said that when the country’s sovereignty was challenged, Pakistan responded with “strategic restraint and firm resolve”.
He said that confronted with “unprovoked attacks on both our borders one after the other”, the armed forces responded with professionalism and discipline.
Talking about Marka-i-Haq, he said that they turned India’s attack on the motherland into a strategic victory.
“On the western border, when the Taliban regime ramped up a long line of attacks, on the night of Feb 26, our security forces acted decisively,” he said.
“The political leadership stood united; the people stood resolute,” he said. He expressed gratitude to the armed forces for defending the country’s border.
He said that 2025 marked a turning point for Pakistan, defined by the resounding military victory in Marka-i-Haq.
He also talked about occupied Kashmir, saying that nobody in South Asia would be free or safe until the Kashmiris won their freedom. He said that India’s leaders had said they were preparing for another war.
“As a life-long advocate for peace, I would not recommend it. At the same time, I will also say that any aggressor should prepare for another humiliating defeat; make no mistake, we are ready for you. Move away from warfare to meaningful negotiation. That is the only path for regional security,” he said. “Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and understands the weight of that responsibility. At the same time, we are a state that defends itself when required. Our conduct reflects maturity, confidence and clarity of purpose,” he said. Staff Report
