Exclusive interview of President Asif Ali Zardari on Front Line with Kamran Shahid on Express News. Says, “I’m an opportunist: I’ve walked from the gallows to the Presidency. I’ve learnt a lot from my jail life.” I want an European type model in the region if not now but in the future generation- Zardari. Addresses NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa. Says PPP could have made government in NWFP without ANP but we want to take along all secular forces, therefore MQM_PPP alliance will remain in tact, he added.

- The 17th Amendment will be done away with during December.

“We wanted to abolish the 17th Amendment from day one, but we wanted to do it through a unanimous decision, as the 1973 constitution was also approved unanimously,” said the president in the interview on Front Line with Kamran Shahid.

Zardari said his eligibility could not be challenged in any court since he had indemnity cover. “According to our legal team, the president has indemnity [cover] … eligibility cannot be challenged now,” said Zardari.

He said his eligibility as a candidate for the office of president was not even challenged by his opponents at the time of election – a reference to Justice (r) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui and Mushahid Hussain.

About the Balochistan package, the president said it was a “wonderful start” to development in the province, but conceded that some quarters could have complaints.

Replying to a question about former president Pervez Musharraf, he said, “Let the court decide about him.”

About the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he said police, the FIA and other departments were investigating, and those responsible would be punished.

About the war on terror, Zardari said the failure of peace deals led to military operations in Swat and South Waziristan.

He said the US was thinking about reviewing its policy on drone attacks, which would enable Pakistan to secure the drone technology and launch such attacks on its own.

US-Taliban: Replying to a question about reports on talks between the US and the Taliban, he said, “We are getting this news through the media … Pakistan was not on board [over this issue].” He said the war on terror was now being considered in Pakistan as the country’s own war.

About the alleged presence of Mullah Omar in Karachi, Quetta or any other city of Pakistan – the president said the US had not provided any evidence to prove the claim.

MQM, ANP: About relations among coalition partners, the president said ebbs and flows and differences of opinion were part of democracy, but “we want to take along all our allies, including the MQM and ANP”.

Zardari said he was thankful to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif for talking about stopping the way of non-democratic forces. “Nawaz and I, both of us want to strengthen the democratic process in the country,” said the president.

About a proposal to rename NWFP ‘Pakhtoonkhawa’, Zardari said the nation would soon hear good news.

About the reinstatement of sacked judges, the president said, “If the judiciary was restored through public pressure … I am also part of the masses.”

Media: About media criticism, Zardari said because of public relations companies’ influence and other factors, even the foreign media was not completely independent and neutral. “The Pakistani media will grow with the passage of time … we will exhibit tolerance.”