Wrong timing given by aide created confusion about Zardari's address

Islamabad, June 15 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's address to the nation was regarded as delayed because a close aide announced the timing of the address without consulting the president.

Sources said the timing of the address was to be decided by Zardari. However, the presidential aide as a result of misunderstanding told a private channel that the president would address the nation between 10 and 11 p.m. on Friday.

Some sources in the presidency, however, claimed that the speech was recorded six times because Zardari was finding it difficult to pronounce some words correctly in Urdu.

Presidential spokesman Faratullah Babar said that the president's speech was delayed because the president had to prepare for it and some guests also arrived at that time as scheduled earlier.

He said the confusion in this regard was created when a TV channel aired the news that the president would address the nation between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

"We had only mentioned in the press release that President Zardari would address the nation any time Friday night," The News quoted Babar, as saying.

He, however, admitted that address by a president or a prime minister was a matter of great importance for the people therefore any delay on such occasions was not a good thing.

"When different TV channels aired the news about the president's address, we had two options - one to defer it for a day or go for it the same day even if it is too late to avoid any confusion. We opted for the second option," he added. (ANI)