MicroPakistan

My Dear Countrymen, Assalaam-o-Alaikum!

Today we - you & I - are, by the grace of Almighty God, making history. For the very first time a sitting government has been voted out and a new government voted in. For the very first time all political parties, but most significantly the losing party, have accepted the results of the elections. For the very first time a peaceful democratic transfer of power took place when I administered the oath to the incoming free and fairly elected government. For the very first time a grand coalition between the two largest political parties, that is, PPP and PMLN has taken place and for that I congratulate Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. There were other firsts too. Pakistan does not only have the distinction of being the first Muslim country to have elected a woman Prime MInister, Mohtrama Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, in 1988 but now the first Muslim country to have elected a woman Speaker of the house and for that I congratulate Pakistan’s National Assembly and its new Speaker.

You, the people of Pakistan, have spoken. Parties supporting me were defeated in the polls though they still received 30% of your vote and for that I am most grateful to you. In thus holding a free and fair election I honored another one of my promises I had made to this great nation. But in this I must also thank the outgoing government of PMLQ & MQM, the interim government, the election commission, the army and all other law enforcing agencies. Above all it is you, the people of Pakistan, who deserve the most congratulations for as heirs to our illustrious forefathers who founded this great country, your hearts too beat to the drums of democracy. You have waged a long struggle to see the promise of today.

When I took power in October of 1999, I had done so with no preparation and no forethought. While history will better judge and apportion blame one way or another, let me say that my conscience is clear. The whole nation had welcomed us and invested their fondest hopes in us. Once we had taken over, the Supreme Court validated our actions and gave us three years in which to hold elections. We kept to the charge given to us and held elections in 2002. That assembly had representation of all major political forces in our country, bar none. Again, that assembly passed the 17th constitutional amendment, which was also validated by the Supreme Court and as one of historic fact was the first assembly to complete its full term. That assembly also oversaw the fastest economic growth in our history and many far-reaching political and social reforms, unprecedented in their reach and scope.

Today’s Pakistan bears no resemblance to the Pakistan of 1999. In per capita income, in total size of the economy, in our balance of payments, in use of telephones and cell phones, in use of cars and motor cycles, in employment, in macro-economic stability, in debt-ratios, in vibrancy of its media, in personal freedoms, in short, on most accounts, Pakistan has progressed enormously. Yes, there are some major problems for which the buck stops with me and I take full responsibility. We are experiencing severe shortages of electricity and prices of essential food items have shot up putting enormous burden on the common man. And most importantly we face the rising tide of extremism with the inhuman terrorists barbarically killing innocent men, women and children in our villages and in our cities. Make no mistake that while these are major challenges, we, with the support of our valiant armed forces and law-enforcement agencies, with your indomitable will and God’s help will overcome all those challenges . Pakistan will be secure, prosperous and peaceful, that much I know and feel in my blood.

We have advanced tremendously during our rule in personal freedoms and personal choice as reflected in our proliferating and free media and in economic opportunity. But on the other hand despite our best intentions we have some in our civil society quite upset at the events that were put into motion on March 9, 2007 with the dismissal of the then Chief Justice of Pakistan by me and culminating in the imposition of the emergency on November 3, 2007. Our record is not perfect. We have made mistakes. But let me tell you that at all costs I had wanted and had been advised by my civil and military associates to ensure an orderly transition to a more broad-based government. I was not and have never been desirous of personal power for its own sake. I love and have loved this country dearly and each of my actions, mistaken as they may appear to some of you, have been taken by me in Pakistan’s best interests and with the best of my ability. It was in that spirit that I sincerely entered into negotiations with Late Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, enacted the National Reconciliation Ordinance, took off my army uniform, facilitated the return of PMLN leadership and held fair and free elections. I very much hope that Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto was with us today to see for herself the fruit of her courageous and brave service to this country. I pray at this time for her eternal peace.

I have served you, my fellow Pakistanis, with untiring effort, honestly and with complete sincerity. And no matter how some of you may feel at this time, I believe history will judge us as having transformed Pakistan from a weak to a relatively strong country.

Having done my duty in overseeing a peaceful transfer of power to a what I very much hope will be a strong and stable government, I hereby resign as President of Pakistan. I have sent my letter of resignation to the Chairman Senate with a copy to the Prime Minister. The Chairman Senate will take on the duties of the President as laid out in the constitution and will immediately embark on holding an election to the office of the President under the law.

I am leaving the government but I am not leaving public service. Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and the leadership of PMLQ have invited me to fight for the election of the Presidentship of the party. I intend to do that. I also intend to fight for the election to the National Assembly and if elected by my constituency will as head of PMLQ become the Leader of the Opposition. I am ready to submit myself to the will of the people, fortified by my great belief in God and in the bright future of Pakistan. As long as I have strength in my body I will fight for Pakistan. I want to see real democracy take firm roots for which I believe my government has practically done more than any other government in the history of Pakistan. And if that means I serve in opposition, well that is what I will do. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you. May God protect and bless Pakistan! Pakistan Paindabad.