Pakistan’s Outgoing Zardari Says Will Support Gov’t

Islamabad, Sept 9, IRNA – Pakistan’s outgoing President, Asif Ali Zardari, has vowed that his opposition Pakistan Peoples Party will continue to support the government of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif to fight terrorism. Zardari spoke to his political supporters in the eastern city of Lahore just few days after he stepped down on completion of his five-year constitutional term. “I will standby Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to defeat those forces that wanted to weaken the country,” Zardari told several thousands supporters. Zardari becomes Pakistan’s first president to complete his term and to transfer power to an elected President. The outgoing president said that he will fully participate in the politics and will remain in contact with the masses. Zardari, who was elected in 2008, said earlier he will prefer to focus on strengthening his party. “I am glad to leave my office with dignity and honor on completion of my five-year term,” Zardari told staff of the Presidency at a dinner late Saturday. He said he always make decisions in the interests of the country and that he devolved powers to the Parliament voluntarily. Zardari told Geo television in his interview as the President that he will not seek to become the prime minister and will instead focus on running his party. President Zardari is also the co-chairman of the PPP but had barred by the courts from political activities unless he had been at the presidency./end