President interview helps removing mis-understandings

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister A Rehman Malik on Sunday said that President Asif Ali Zardari's recent interview to a private TV channel has helped removing mis-underdandings on different issues.

The President spoke at length on various issues of national and international importance ranging from domestic political situation, relations between state institutions and ties with India, China and US, he said while talking to media here.

The minister said President Zardari strengthened the Parliament by transferring powers to the Prime Minister, negating the thinking of opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League (N). "Opposition was propagating that President Asif Ali Zardari will not give his powers to the Parliament," he added.

Malik appreciated the political acumen and statesmanship of the President in handling the issues, saying the country is lucky enough to have such a leadership after founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan Peoples Party founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He said the government is following the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in line with her policy of reconciliation to strengthen democratic institutions.

He said Benazir Bhutto came to Pakistan despite knowing life threats for the cause of democracy. Commenting on the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said the case has been investigated from many aspects and people involved in it have been exposed.

Former minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that President Asif Ali Zardari has presented his point of view in simple words before the nation, adding that PPP-led government came into power after having a public mandate.

He said promoting atmosphere of reconciliation in the country was the dream of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and PPP is committed to fulfilling it.

Replying to a question, Raja said the government is taking appropriate steps to extend maximum facilities to overseas Pakistani for which it opened more offices in the country and abroad to solve their passport and identity cards related problems.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2010