Mr Zardari is a highly controversial person, so are all great leaders. He has generated greater controversy by deciding to run for the office of President of Pakistan. He may still be a greater leader in the making. His detractors are not only cruel in their criticism; they are unsparing and unprincipled at times in their scathing vitriol against his person.

He is the product of a process. He has roots in people and breathes with them. He has offered the dearest sacrifice for Pakistan. He remained in jail for more than nine years facing charges that could not be proved after spending millions of dollars.

He has faced the most scathing media trial and come out more sober, settled and matured politician. He has already shown the guts and girth to provide such leadership to the country that is up to and equal to the challenges it is facing these days.

In the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s murder country as well as the PPP faced the most daunting challenge to their integrity and survival. He daringly spoke for Pakistan whereas the people, overwhelmed by the tragedy, in front of him were shouting against Pakistan.

He declared ‘Pakistan Khepay’ when people were not able to make
considered judgement and emotions ran high. Zardari’s detractors are taking his candidacy for the office of President with a sense of disbelief. How could PPP nominate him?  What about the corruption charges against him?  What qualification does he have for the office except being the husband of Benazir Bhutto? etc.

The office of the President has certain myths around the halo of its authority and dignity that one needs to look beyond the foggy and opaque screen of its sanctity and understand it in terms of real politick.

The first is that the President should be a non-controversial person as
president’s office is a symbolic office in the parliamentary form of  government as ours. It is a symbol of unity of all federating units. The second myth is that  an ideal president is an apolitical person. If political, he/she should be neutral to certain extent and must rise about the ‘hack-and slash’ of country’s marred political life.

Taken in correct perspective such myths come out as childish dreams and do not smack of any political maturity on part of their beholders. We as dream hunters could not find any such president in our so far politically chequered history. We had dictators and their sycophant toadies who liked to ride the high horses of authority and would never like to do away with presidential powers according to parliamentary norms.  President Fazal Elahi should be the best choice for Zardari’s detractors.

A first grade politician sitting in the office of the president is a plus for Pakistan that needs a break from military rule. Our military rulers at the end of their career tried to become politicians whereas our second and third grade politicians and relics of bureaucracy started as civilian president but later turned into despots. Mr. Zardari as President will be the first, first grade politician who will occupy the president house through a complete and bona fide political process.

One may not agree with him politically. There may be some grey areas in his political dealings that only time can judge. However, if he is able to deliver and uphold the integrity and sanctity of his office as president then he is the most suitable political figure to occupy the office. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalul Rehman is satisfied with PPP’s choice whereas Asfandar Walli has come out in the open saying that Mr. Zardari has fulfilled all the promises he made with him and his party.

Mr Altaf Hussain of MQM was the first man to propose Zardari’s name for the job. Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao of PPP-S has also declared hisunconditional support for Mr. Zardari. Three provincial assemblies have already backed him. In Punjab he has substantial backing despite MLN’s reservations and their canvassing for their candidate, Justice rtd Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui.

Mr. Zardari has done everything to woo Nawaz League into ruling coalition’s  fold but restore the judges according to Nawaz League’s vision. Mr. Nawaz has shown little acumen as politician dealing with the restoration of judges’ issue with tunnel vision. Real politick does not entail dead lines especially when both parties agree in principle to restore the judges. Pakistan faces bigger challenges than restoration of judges and especially of Justice Iftikhar chaudhary. Musharraf was wrong in sacking the judges and that proved his political death knell. He did not like the way he was removed as the Chief of Army Staff by Nawaz Sharief, but his removal from the office of President could not be more disgraceful and despite Army’s guard of honour, more  unceremonious.

Nothing is wrong with Mr. Zardari as President if he is able to act as he has been doing. Nothing more, nothing less is required of him. He has reached out to all political forces in the country for the politics of compromise, adjustment and understanding.

Under newly liberated media searchlight, the days of political vendetta are over. Nawaz League should shun the mentality of 90s and now as the apple of discord, Musharaf  has been removed, it should rejoin the government and start sharing its responsibility towards people of Pakistan.

The office of the president is political one. All four federating units as well as the centre that comprise president’s electorate are divisive on political lines according to the political parties that are represented there. The president is to accede to the political agenda of the most popular kind otherwise will lose the confidence thus backing of the members of provincial and central assemblies. Where is impartiality here?

Only after winning the election, the president needs to rise above the party lines like the Prime Minister and become the president of the whole Nation. Considering his past six months performance this role is not too difficult for Mr Zardari to play.  

He seems rather cut out for the job. Mr. Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui is past the age of being vibrant and active for the role that is being thrust upon him by MLN. On the other hand, Mr. Mushahid Hussain is the relic of General Musharraf and is better kept at bay. He should quit politics and come back to journalism where he can serve the nation better. Then the temptation of power is too big for some people.

In a world where we have erstwhile liberator of the nation Mr Robert Mugebe  of Zimbabwe, whose role as president has earned him the most unsparing criticism from across the globe.  Then there is Mr. Chavez of Venezuela, a nationalist president who is facing up to the US and not compromising a bit on issues of national interest.  

Yet again, there is Nelson Mandela of South Africa, the Godfather of a nation that was tattered into communal and ethnic strife when he had become the president and who led the nation at time of crisis then smoothly handed over the leadership of the nation to his able successor. He now rests at his home as the most revered and respected godly figure, a living legend in his land.  Then we have our own coterie of presidents. Mr. Zardari has enough inspiration as well as bearing at hand to take him to a respectable position in our history.

Information

He has faced the most scathing media trial and come out more sober, settled and matured politician. He has already shown the guts and girth to provide such leadership to the country that is up to and equal to the challenges it is facing these days. 

First appeared in Pakistan Observer, Islamabad on Sept. 02, 2008