Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the 67th session of the United Nations and presented Pakistan’s stand on different issues.

Let us see if you have any observation about the salient points of his speech:

1: Before I take up my speech, I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved prophet, Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) The International community must not become silent observers and should criminalise such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.

Terrorism

2: There are a lot of questions that are asked of Pakistan these days. I am not here to answer questions about Pakistan. The people of Pakistan have already answered them. The politicians of Pakistan have answered them. The soldiers of Pakistan have answered them. We have lost over 7,000 Pakistani soldiers and policemen, and over 37,000 civilians. I want to ask the world:

  • On behalf the two year old baby who was killed in the bombing at Lahore’s Moon Market on December 7, 2009.
  • On behalf of the traders and entrepreneurs in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi, of the dozens of marketplaces that have been ravaged by multiple bombings. Over and over and over again.
  • And perhaps most of all, on behalf of my three children, whose mother [Benazir Bhutto] was also martyred by terrorists…
  • How much more suffering can Pakistan endure?”

3: Terrorism and extremism had not only destroyed human lives, torn social fabric, and devastated the economy of Pakistan but the rest of the world. Our economy, our lives, our ability to live… have been challenged. Globally, we face enormous challenges.

4: Dictators and their regimes were responsible for suffocating and throttling Pakistan, Pakistan’s institutions, and Pakistani democracy. And I remember the billions provided by the international community to support those dictatorships. My country, its social fabric, its very character has been altered. Our condition today is a product of dictatorships.

5: Drone strikes and civilian casualties have continued to add to the complexity of this war.

6: To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead, and the pain of our living. Do not ask of my people, what no one has ever asked of any other peoples. Do not demonise the innocent women and children of Pakistan.

7: No country and no people have suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism than Pakistan, he added. In Pakistan, democracy has helped bring about a major strategic shift in how we view working together. Within Pakistan, our democracy has brought about major changes.

8: Spread and illegal trade of heroin despite the presence of international forces in Afghanistan is a worrisom fact. The size of the heroin trade had increased by 3000 per cent in the last decade. Terrorist activities within our region and indeed all over the world are funded and fuelled by the unrestricted production and sale of illegal drugs.

**Foreign policy
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9: Pakistan strategic partnership which China was growing from strength to strength.

10: We have begun to engage and deepen our friendship with the entire range of the Afghan political spectrum. We believe that a sovereign, stable and secure Afghanistan is good for the Afghan people. And what is good for the Afghan people is good for Pakistan.

11: Our hearts and homes remain open to our Afghan brothers. It was imperative for the international community to support the three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan in their quest to return home with dignity.

12: We will continue to support the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully choose their destiny in accordance with the UN Security Council’s long-standing resolutions on this matter. Kashmir remains a symbol of the failures, rather than strengths, of the UN system.

Achievements & Prospects
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13: InshaAllah, this will be the first civilian government in Pakistan’s 66-year history to complete its full, five year term. In this time, parliament has passed unprecedented reforms.
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14: Goal is to achieve a permanent democratic future for Pakistan. It has not been easy, but nothing worth fighting for is easy. We long ago stopped thinking of doing what is easy. Instead, we have committed ourselves to doing what is right.

15: We have established for the very first time a truly independent Election Commission, to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Our media is free, uncensored and thriving. Our civil society is flourishing under the protection of democracy.

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

I understand that it was an excellent speech which fully represented Pakistani people. He touched almost all the troubling questions that plague our minds. It was a powerful slap on the international community (read the US), that wants a hook to hang its failure in Afghanistan.

I also liked his point of wholesale international support for dictators, one after another.

I, however, disagree with the report card of the performance of democracy since the last general elections.

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UN urged to address anti-Islam film: Please stop the refrain of do more: Zardari

Bringing this crucial issue to the highest forum and conveying the sentiments of Muslims on this ugly blasphemous issue to all over the world, Zardari has done great job. He has also brought the attention of the world on drone attacks where thousands of innocent civilians have died. It is hoped that some positive will come out of his effort which may help Pakistan to become stabilized country.

Credit is due to AZ for that, none other Muslim country was able to present this issue in the UN, particularly SA, the birth place of Prophet Mohammad PBUH and the foundation of Islam 1500 years ago. I am surprised.

**UN urged to address anti-Islam film: Please stop the refrain of do more: Zardari | DAWN.COM
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NEW YORK, Sept 25: Pakistan moved the United Nations on Tuesday to immediately address the alarming situation created by an anti-Islam video and “bridge the widening rift to enable the comity of nations to be one again”.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who announced this step in his address to the 67th UN General Assembly began his speech with a strong condemnation of the blasphemous video and urged the international community not to remain silent to such provocations.

Although overshadowed by the dispute over the blasphemous video, the other issues that the president raised in his speech were equally important. He urged the international community to understand Paksitan’s concerns over drone attacks in Fata and to “stop the do more mantra”.

Speaking hours after US President Barack Obama condemned the video and the consequent violence, President Zardari too criticised those attacking innocent people in retaliation but reminded the world of its obligation to deal with this divisive issue as well.

**“Before I take up my speech, I want to express the strongest condemnation for the acts of incitement of hate against the faith of billions of Muslims of the world and our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him),” the president said.
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“Although we can never condone violence, the international community must not become silent observers and should criminalise such acts that destroy the peace of the world and endanger world security by misusing freedom of expression.”

The president noted that the international community was asking a lot of questions of Pakistan these days but said he had not come to the UN to answer those questions.

“The people of Pakistan have already answered them. The politicians of Pakistan have answered them. The soldiers of Pakistan
have answered them,” he said.

**“We have lost over seven thousand Pakistani soldiers and policemen and over 37,000 civilians.”

The Pakistani government, he said, had lost a minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, a governor, Salman Taseer, and many senior military and civilian officials in the war against terrorism.

“And I need not remind my friends here today, that I bear a personal scar… my wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was martyred through the bullets and bombs of terrorists,” he said.
**
The president noted that terrorism and extremism had destroyed human lives in Pakistan, torn social fabric, and devastated the economy.

“Our economy, our lives, our ability to live in the shadow of our Sufi saints and our freedom-loving forefathers have been challenged,” he said.

The president, however, assured the world that Pakistan had responded forcefully to these challenges.

“We have responded. Our soldiers have responded. So I am not here to answer questions about Pakistan,” he said.

**“I am here to ask some questions on behalf of my people. On behalf of the two-year-old baby who was killed in the bombing at Lahore’s Moon Market on Dec 7, 2009.

“On behalf of Pervaiz Masih, a Christian Pakistani, who was killed with six others, trying to protect Muslim Pakistanis during a bomb attack on the Islamic University in Islamabad on Oct 20, 2009.

“On behalf of Mr Ghayoor, the Commandant of the Frontier Constabulary Police Force in Peshawar, who was martyred by militants on Aug 4, 2010.

“On behalf of traders and businessmen in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi, of the dozens of marketplaces that have been ravaged by multiple bombings. Over and over and over again.

“And perhaps most of all, on behalf of my three children, whose mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was also martyred by terrorists.”**

The president noted that no country and no people had suffered more in the epic struggle against terrorism, than Pakistan.

Drone attacks

“Drone strikes and civilian casualties on our territory add to the complexity of our battle for hearts and minds through this epic
struggle,” he said.

**“To those who say we have not done enough, I say in all humility: Please do not insult the memory of our dead, and the pain of our living. Do not ask of my people, what no one has ever asked of any other peoples. Do not demonise the innocent women, and
children of Pakistan.

“And please, stop this refrain to do more.”

The simplest question of all, he said, would be: “How much more suffering can Pakistan endure?”
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The president noted that Pakistan’s engagement with the United Nations had a long and glorious history as Pakistan had consistently been among the top UN peacekeeping troop contributors for many years. Mr Zardari said that Pakistan would continue to support the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully choose their destiny in accordance with the UN Security Council’s long-standing resolutions on this matter.

“Kashmir remains a symbol of the failures, rather than strengths of the UN system,” he said.

While welcoming Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council, the president said the UN system must become more democratic and more accountable. Reform should be based on consensus and democratic principles, he added.

Pakistan, he said, supported the rights of the Palestinian people and an independent Palestinian state and also favoured the admission of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

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Never liked him and never will.

But today he spoke of our real problems. Good speech (apart from the usual democracy mantras). For the first and probably the only time, he spoke like a president of Pakistan.

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

Pretty much agree with Points 1 to 12 and strongly disagree with Points 13 to 15.

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

Ditto

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

Who cares :yawn:

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

^ I think it was a strong representation of Pakistani people's sentiments. We should give credit wherever and whenever it is due :)

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

America ja kar to woh aisi baatein krega hi ........It would have been good if he had done this speech on National TV after the Movie saga

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

I have always been of the opinion based on circumstance and empirical evidences that Zardari is a criminal, murderer, corrupt, and above all a disgrace to the nation; but I have to agree that this speech was off the hook, though there is always a room for improvement. He truely spoke in the language of a patriot Pakistani. :k:

Like Umer, I also do no agree with points 13-15.

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

:bummer::k:

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

Why after four and a half years, the president has suddenly realized "no more", good speech no doubt, but seems to be dictated by political interests (as elections are nearing).

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

will not get my vote though :snooty:

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

Same here. :slight_smile:

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

by far his best speech so far.

btw, who wrote it :hmmm:
I wish those were his personal thoughts…

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

So glad a general is not a president of Pakistan today.

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

kudos to the speech writer

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Re: Zardari's speech at the UN — Your take?

Don't really like the guy but I think he did a good speech.

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Re: Zardari’s speech at the UN — Your take?

:smokin:All i can see is, Zardari is trying to work hard to make us feel that he has feelings for pakistani people. :hoonh: He needs to do more for the upcoming elections. The way I is see it, its all inside game. All must have been discussed before him coming in front of media and giving a big speech like that. We all know very well pakistani politician dont even take a single breath without taking permission from the US.

:dannyboy: Politician are really great live actors, they should win award on their best acting. The modern wold should combine Film industry and politics:chai: that will surely be more interesting.