News
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Next president could be a woman: Zardari
LAHORE: A woman might become Pakistan’s next president, but any decision will be taken after evolving consensus, Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Zardari said on Saturday. In an interview with ARY television, Zardari said President Pervez Musharraf was conspiring against the present government, which gave the public the impression that the president was more powerful than parliament and the bureaucracy was acting upon a “go-slow” policy. He said democracy would be victorious whether Musharraf faced impeachment or ignored it. He said he was in constant contact with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, but regretted not having taken it onboard on Musharraf’s impeachment. It would take time to convince the MQM on this issue, he added. Zardari denied he was a presidential candidate. “I would have become the prime minister if I wished to become president,” he said. The PPP co-chairman said he wanted to change Attorney General Malik Qayyum, but Musharraf refused it. He said foreign policy and national politics might change after Musharraf’s ouster. He said a new chapter would be written in the history of Pakistan after Musharraf, and all problems would be resolved through dialogue. Zardari said he was planning to convene a regional conference in which Afghanistan, Iran, India and Arab countries would be invited to resolve regional issues. He said every future president would be answerable to parliament. daily times monitor
Courtesy DailyTimes