Parliament supreme: Zardari

MADINAH - Asif Ali Zardari, Co-Chairperson, Pakistan People's Party on Saturday said that Parliament could remove President from his office as it is the
supreme state organ fully empowered to take lead on important national issues.


He said this while addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani here before their departure for Jeddah to hold important
meeting with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.


The PPP Co-Chairperson was asked to comment on the President Musharraf's remarks during interaction with senior journalists in Islamabad that he would
not resign from his slot and if Parliament wanted to go for his impeachment there was a constitutional mechanism for the purpose.Zardari said that if
President was referring to Parliament when he talked about his impeachment, the supreme body could do it by all means. "Parliament is the supreme state
organ and it can remove President and Prime Minister," he said.


"If he has this intention then the issue of President's removal could be debated upon in the Parliament," he said.


To another question on the possibility of restoration of judges through the constitutional package, the PPP Co-Chairperson said, "Yes it is possible and it
could be done through the package," he said adding that the package could amend the constitution the way it was desired by the Parliament and the
people of Pakistan.


Earlier, speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that it was the dictatorship that had not allowed the democracy to flourish and stand on its feet.
"The dictatorship has always inflicted damage to the country by causing political instability," he said.


However, he said that it was his party that had suffered the most in fight against dictator and it would steer the country out of prevailing political and
economic crises under the able leadership of Asif Ali Zardari.


He said that the peace and political stability was essential for the economic development in Pakistan adding that they would cooperate with any country, be
it US or any other state that could help them eliminate the menace of terror threatening the foundation of country.


He said that war against terrorism was more of Pakistan than that of any other's state and we were playing the role of frontline state to bring about peace
and stability in the country.


To a question on Iranian nuclear programme, Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan supported the peaceful nuclear programme of Tehran but it was
against any such programme that could be detrimental to global peace and stability.