President Asif Ali Zardari used the fourth anniversary of the death of his wife Benazir Bhutto to ensure supporters he would not resign in the face of numerous crises building around him. In a jab at the Supreme Court, he asked about the as yet unsolved case of his wife's assassination. "People ask what happened to Benazir Bhutto's case," he said. "I ask (Chief Justice) Iftikhar Chaudhry: what happened to Benazir Bhutto's case?"
No one has yet been charged with her assassination at a huge rally outside Islamabad.
Zardari vigorously defended his rule and urged the nation to foil "conspiracies against democracy" on the anniversary of his wife Benazir Bhutto's murder.
Asif Ali Zardari addressed at least 300,000 mourners at the Bhutto mausoleum in his first public speech since being treated in hospital in Dubai, brushing his illness under the carpet and delivering a veiled barb against the army.
It was a rambling, at times incoherent performance designed to hit back against rising tensions with the military, agitations from the political opposition and persistent speculation that his days in office are numbered.
"Today we pay tributes to her. The best way to do it is to defend and protect democracy and democratic institutions in the country and foil all conspiracies against it," Zardari said in a statement issued by his office. Zardari issued a jab against the army by invoking Nobel laureate and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who campaigned against military rule in Myanmar.
"Making a nation is the art of the impossible and I believe that I am doing the art of the impossible," he shouted from behind bullet-proof glass.
"Today America needs Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a little girl sitting at a place and the superpower walks towards her. This is the way to fight, adopt this way," he said.
Zardari tackled head on speculation about his health following eight days in hospital this month for an illness which has not been publicly disclosed but which aides likened to a mini stroke with no lasting effects.
"It was said that I am medically out. I am not medically out, but yes just like your muscle was pulled, maybe my muscle was also pulled," he said. Police said at least 300,000 people gathered at Bhutto's mausoleum, converging outside the heavily guarded perimeter of the compound to pay their respects, beating their chests and demanding that her killers be arrested.
The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) had been anxious to represent the fourth Bhutto anniversary as a show of support, two days after political newcomer and national sporting hero Imran Khan attracted large crowds in Karachi, the country's biggest city.
Around 6,000 policemen, hundreds of paramilitary officers, electronic gates, aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs were ensuring security, police said.
"We want revenge. Arrest Benazir's killers," the mourners chanted, carrying party flags and photographs of Bhutto, eulogising her and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged under military rule, an AFP photographer said.
APP adds: President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to defend the Constitution and said he would not let anyone damage the federation.
President said he was determined to fight for democracy, but in a democratic manner. Wearing a Sindhi cap, a beaming President told an emotionally charged crowd that he was son of the soil and could feel the pain of this land.
President Zardari said all forces were under the Parliament and said he always listened to the Prime Minister because he represented the federation and was a representative of the people through the Parliament. He said he decided to hand over all powers to the Prime Minister, as he wanted the democracy to nurture. He asked the people and the party workers to remain steadfast and not to be deterred by temporary challenges.
He said he would never let his people fight or sacrifice for his sake. "We will fight for democracy as we do not fight for seats."
The President said only real democracy could deliver and pointed that attempts were being made to introduce "tailor-made democracies" and added that those who were now jumping fences do not have any significant achievements to their credit. "Is this to derail real democracy, or an attempt to bring in some dictator," he asked.
"Democracy can deliver and will deliver," he asked "how much time has been given to the nascent democracy. It will take time for it to flourish." He paid rich tributes to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for remaining steadfast and said he stood by him. He said though protocol wise, Gilani reported to him, but in fact, the Prime Minister was the leader of all.
"You would not find Yusuf Raza Gilani stumble at any stage," the President said. He said four personalities of the Bhutto family had sacrificed their precious lives that made him able to stand at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and face this mammoth crowd. He vowed to continue striving for their rights and added it was not easy to achieve.
He said his young daughter Aseefa Bhutto will be the flag bearer, and start her journey right from the place where it was dropped by her slain mother in Rawalpindi, to carry on the family tradition of serving the people of Pakistan.
The President said the PPP was not a party of inheritance, but regretted that the country had no leader after the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. President Zardari said he had always said that he talks of history and not to merely make headlines. "Politics is art of the possible, but making a nation is the art of impossible and what I am doing is the art of impossible."
The President said in the same context, he gave an identity to the Pashtuns and no one can take back that identity for centuries to come. This land suffered many pains that began from Sardar Nouroz Khan.
The President said he wanted to help the people of Balochistan and end their problems, but it would have to be done within the framework of the federation.
"We have spent years in jails," he said and mentioned to six years imprisonment of the Prime Minister and 12 years of his own imprisonment. He asked the Baloch to fight the way he himself fights and referred to his life long struggle.
The President said he would do all for the Baloch, but stressed that it would only be done, while remaining under the federation.
The President also favoured a separate province in South Punjab and said: "The people seek their rights from Takht-e-Lahore [rulers of Punjab]."
He mentioned that the case of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is still pending with the courts and regretted that other cases were getting the attention, while important ones were pending. He said he had decided not to pursue the investigation by the United Nations, as it did not question the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He said he would write an article in Washington Post and raise questions on it.
The President waved a copy of the party manifesto and said that he would give it to renowned writer Munno Bhai to analyse the achievements. He said he was proud to say that 80 percent of the party manifesto had been accomplished.
President Zardari said there was recession in the world, however food was available for the people of Pakistan despite braving two huge floods that was also dubbed as Tsunami by the UN. He said still Pakistan's food stores were full and no one was hungry in the country.
President Zardari said Pakistan had decided not to be part of any international war game.
"We have decided not to join any 'theatre of war' which has nothing to do with us," he said and added that rather trade would be the top priority with international community. He categorically said that Pakistan would enter into trade pacts with other countries of its choice, and not at the behest of any other country. "Your own economies are in trouble. Should I care for the children of my country or look after your interests?" the President said, raising a question to the international community.
President Zardari stressed the need for new trade blocs with regional countries including China, Russia and Central Asian states.
He clarified that these would not be the blocs of aggression but of mutual trade. He said he introduced the concept of barter trade system due to the current financial recession across the world. He said Pakistan had signed agreements with Turkey and China in this regard for the mutual benefit of the countries. About the ongoing financial crises in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the President asked the union leaders to consult some expert on the issues before raising hue and cry over them. He pointed to the objection raised against the proposed code-sharing of PIA with Turkish Airlines and said the idea could prove beneficial for the national flag career.