Outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he is leaving the presidency as a satisfied man after overseeing the first-ever democratic transition of power in Pakistan and relinquishing presidential powers to Parliament.
“Democratic transition to power means strengthening of democracy and I’m confident that Pakistan will be the ultimate winner,” Mr. Zardari said while speaking at a farewell dinner he hosted for journalists on Monday night.
“I have no regrets. I’m exiting the presidency with honour and dignity,” said Mr. Zardari.
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PML-N leader Mamnoon Hussain will succeed Mr. Zardari.
Mr. Zardari said he believed in the freedom of expression as an inalienable democratic right of the people. “We tolerated scathing criticism for the sake of democracy,” he said.
“Others should learn from the criticism I and my party faced. Politicians are people’s representatives and people have the right to criticise them,” he added.
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