Zardari promises to thwart conspirators

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday vowed to foil any conspiracy against him and the present democratic set-up in Pakistan.

"We have reached the presidency and the prime minister house through mandate of the people and we have the ability and resolve to foil any conspiracy," he said.

Amnesty

The president was addressing via phone link a massive rally of the ruling Pakistan People's Party held in Karachi to mark its 43rd founding anniversary.

He however said that neither the establishment nor mainstream opposition wanted derailment of the democratic system.

The president said only a "handful of political actors" were involved in creating uncertainty.

The government has repeatedly blamed the media for waging a campaign against the president.

Zardari is currently under pressure for having benefitted from a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) that provided amnesty to public office holders in corruption cases.

NRO, which is due to become ineffective after a November 28 deadline set in a verdict of the Supreme Court, was promulgated in October 2007 by former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf.

Last week the government announced a list of people who benefitted from NRO. Besides the president, among them were incumbent ministers and several holding important positions in the government.

The rally was held next to the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Thousands of party workers waved the tri-colour party flags. The president also paid tribute to the hundreds of martyrs of democracy and as well as soldiers, policemen and law enforcers.