President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan Day speech on March 23rd has become a focal point of public discussion after he visibly struggled to deliver his address to the nation. During the speech, Zardari made several notable linguistic mistakes, transforming phrases like “Koshish ki jar rahi hai”(efforts are being made) into “Khushi ki chaah rahi hai”(desire for happiness) and mispronouncing “Beshumar kurbani” (countless sacrifices) in a manner that drew attention and went viral on social media.
The speech drew mixed reactions from the public and media alike. Social media platforms were flooded with comments, with many users mocking the president’s delivery while others expressed genuine concern about his health and ability to perform his presidential duties.
Responding to the speech video, a user said, “The internet has reacted to President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech on March 23, which was marked by several fumbles, mispronunciations, awkward pauses, and a trembling voice.”
Abdul Basit, the former Pakistani High Commissioner to India, slammed Zardari over his speech.
Basit shared a video of the speech, expressing deep disappointment and pain at the president’s struggle. He emphasised that the president represents the entire country, and thus, the mockery of his speech was essentially a mockery of every Pakistani. Basit questioned why Zardari was brought to deliver the speech if he was unwell, and why he couldn’t read the Urdu speech properly.
The speech was delivered on Pakistan Day, a significant national commemoration marking two pivotal historical moments: the Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, and the adoption of Pakistan’s first constitution on March 23, 1956. However, the event was overshadowed by the president’s apparent difficulties in delivering his address.
Adding to the controversy, the complete speech has not been officially released. Unlike typical presidential addresses, government websites have made no official press release or full text available. The viral video has been leaked from media channel broadcasts, further fueling speculation and discussion about the incident.
