President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would take all political forces in the country along to forge political harmony in the larger interest of the country and the masses. Addressing the certificate awarding ceremony of the Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS) at Governor’s House here, he said, “I know PPP workers are not happy in Punjab since they are not getting jobs, but I have told them that they will have to defeat the enemies of Pakistan first.”



The president said that PPP workers would have to wage a war against terrorism which had been imposed by a handful of people who wanted to de-stabilize the country.
He said these elements wanted closure of all businesses in the country to achieve their nefarious motives. All factories were closed in Pakhtunkhawa due to the menace of terrorism, he added.
The President said PPP was the party of martyrs who had laid their lives for Pakistan and democracy. He said, “democracy is a great power and the PPP believes in it and has always led by example.”
The president said on being told by an American General that militants had reached behind Margala hills, “I told him the number of Army officers embracing martyrdom would be higher than the Jawans if a war is imposed.”
Similarly, he said, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhotto and Shaheed Benazir Bhotto laid their lives to lead by example. “This is the culture of the PPP, the same is the culture of Islam and every section of society in Pakistan.”
He said the PPP had always worked according to the aspirations of people and always saved Pakistan in difficult times.
“We will have to get together to save Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhotto. Saving Pakistan is the first and foremost duty of every Pakistani and PPP workers and we would all fulfill this duty”, he added.
Referring to an earlier comment by Syed Khurshid Shah, the president said a group of selfish people thought that PPP leaders were committing a sin by working for the cause of labourers and the poor.
“Pakistan belongs to the poor and workers. PIA belongs to workers and if our adversaries think that giving rights and making them economically independent is a sin we would commit it time and again.” he added.
“I deem it a duty what my adversaries consider a crime”, he said.
He said Pakistani labourers were dear to him and he thought of them and made plans for their betterment. “An industrialist will live peacefully in Gulberg but what is the fate of a worker who has lost his job. “
President Zardari said the PPP had taken the initiative for ensuring the rights of the people of Balochistan. “The aspirations of the new generation are linked with Balochistan which has gas and is rich in minerals.”
He said, “I am getting dams built in Balochistan, Punjab and Pakhtoon Khawah. These dams will help make the barren lands fertile which will be given to workers - brothers and daughters of Benazir Bhutto. “
The President said selfish and misled elements had become his foes because he talked of the rights of the workers. “I believe when these workers would know that the profit from these state owned enterprises will go to their children they will work harder”, said the president.
The President said Shaheed Benazir Bhotto was well aware of danger to her life when she left from Dubai for Pakistan. “Despite threats to her life she was happy to return to Pakistan because she wanted to be among her workers and in her homeland,” he added.
“I call myself a People’s President because I know problems and difficulties of the masses,” he added.
He said he was aware of the situation outside the Presidency, adding that he had been watching everything like a hawk and plotters should know that he was aware of their machinations.
President Zardari said local bodies elections are approaching and “our adversaries will soon know whether people are with us or not.”
He said the electoral process would be transparent and no rigging would be possible.
Governor Salmaan Taseer, Federal Ministers Ahmed Mukhtar. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Syed Khurshed Ahmed Shah and Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan highlighted projects initiated by the PPP-led government for the wellbeing of the labour community of the country.
Earlier, the President inaugurated the Prem Nagar Dry Port Project and the Doubling of Track Project (Khanewal-Raiwind) of the Pakistan Railways.