Part II of an interview with Asif Ali Zardari
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
5:55 AM
Labels: Govt , Interview , Pakistan , Pakistan Peoples Party , Politics , Zardari
Labels: Govt , Interview , Pakistan , Pakistan Peoples Party , Politics , Zardari
"If you ask for a journey’s end while the journey is going on it is rather unfair. Let the journey finish and let the people decide." - File Photo
In an interview with the monthly Herald, President Asif Ali Zardari talked about disaster management in the country, on the role of military in Pakistan and rumours surrounding the current government. Following is part II of the interview.
Q. Why is there a perception that the military is not part of the government?
A. I don’t think the military can even step out without the government’s permission. Who pays the military — for the fuel they use, for the men flying helicopters? Who bought them these helicopters? Sixteen of them were given free to me last year by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi. Some are at the army’s disposal. The army is one of our sectors. Anywhere in the world, when there is a catastrophe the marines are called in.
Q. But do the orders follow in such a way that the civilian government tells the military to go to certain areas for disaster management and not the other way round?
A. Of course, there is no other way round. This impression is again created by the 64-channel strong cottage industry surviving on one young democracy.
Q. Do you think efforts to manage and mitigate such a huge disaster would have been more effective if we had local representatives on the ground?
Q. Why is there a perception that the military is not part of the government?
A. I don’t think the military can even step out without the government’s permission. Who pays the military — for the fuel they use, for the men flying helicopters? Who bought them these helicopters? Sixteen of them were given free to me last year by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi. Some are at the army’s disposal. The army is one of our sectors. Anywhere in the world, when there is a catastrophe the marines are called in.
Q. But do the orders follow in such a way that the civilian government tells the military to go to certain areas for disaster management and not the other way round?
A. Of course, there is no other way round. This impression is again created by the 64-channel strong cottage industry surviving on one young democracy.
Q. Do you think efforts to manage and mitigate such a huge disaster would have been more effective if we had local representatives on the ground?