September 7, 2013
Zardari says not interested in becoming Pakistan PM
Outgoing President says running the party more important
Outgoing Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said in comments aired on Saturday that he will not seek to become prime minister and will instead focus on leading his party after stepping down.
Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistans Peoples Party (PPP), vacates the presidency on Sunday and will be replaced the following day by Mamnoon Hussain, a businessman and close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The centre-left PPP ran a rudderless general election campaign earlier this year and was defeated by Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League-N.
I will not try to become the prime minister of Pakistan, Zardari, who defied expectations by holding onto power for a record five years, said in excerpts of an interview shown on Geo TV.
In my view running the party is more important than becoming prime minister, he added.
Zardari, a controversial figure who was once sentenced to 11 years in prison for alleged corruption, said that as the presidency was the highest office in Pakistan it would not be appropriate for him to become prime minister.
The widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto leaves office with the country gripped by an energy crisis, a flagging economy and a Taliban insurgency.
He is expected to split his time between Pakistan and Dubai as he bids to revive the PPPs fortunes, along with his son Bilawal, who turns 25 this month, meaning he can run for parliament.
Zardaris spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, told AFP the president will relocate to Lahore to start yet another chapter in political struggle with analysts suggesting he will try to revive the party dominated by the Bhutto-Zardari family.
Many observers see Bilawal as a reluctant heir to the legacy of his assassinated mother Bhutto.
Hussains low-key persona and lack of personal power base puts him in stark contrast to Zardari.
Zardari says not interested in becoming Pakistan PM | GulfNews.com
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Yes, you are right, animal son of an animal, running a party is much more important than running a nation. This is what all politicians have in their tiny dirty brains. A patriot and nation loving politician will never say like this.
Yes, PM is a dog and President is his master. How can you bring yourself down from your prestige. A patriot and nation loving politician will never say like this and will try to serve the nation to the best of his expertise and abilities even if that be by working as a secretary to a Minister.