Zardari is PPP and PPP is Zardari?
SARFARAZ AHMED
KARACHI (August 23 2008): The rise of Asif Ali Zardari as leader of the Pakistan People's Party is, arguably, one of the most remarkable stories of recent times. A similar success story is that of Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of Indian National Congress.

While there are striking similarities and dissimilarities between the two South Asian stories, one thing is strongly common: both of them owe their present stature to their circumstances and the tragedy that struck them in the assassination of their spouses-Sonia's husband Rajiv Gandhi and Asif's wife Benazir Bhutto. Arguably, both of them were unaware of the fate that was to befall them.

There is a strong possibility that Zardari will be becoming the President of Pakistan. But there is a very important question linked to this highly anticipated development: Will he be a ceremonial president as originally stipulated by the country's constitution when it was framed and adopted in 1973 or the one that the country and the entire world has seen in General Musharraf who perpetuated his rule with impunity thanks to 17th Amendment?

Musharraf's exit was swiftly followed by reports that Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have been arguing about the potential and potency of president's office in the post-Musharraf era and that this issue has overshadowed the one relating to the restoration of judiciary.

This has even put the issue of indemnity to Musharraf on the back burner. The PML-N leaders in their talks have hinted, though obliquely, that they would not approve of the nomination of Zardari for the post of the highest office of the country as a coalition partner.

This may even lead to withdrawal of their support to the PPP-led government. The Nawaz-led party seems to have weighed up the consequences of such decisions. This may even cost them the Punjab government, which is propelled by PPP.

Moreover, they will always welcome calls for a fresh popular vote for they feel that they have the best chance of cashing in on the opportunity because of a populist position that that they have taken on the issue of independence of judiciary or restoration of judges-a move that has already paid off electoral dividend in the context of Punjab.

An overwhelming majority of PPP legislators, it appears, believes that since Zardari could not become a prime minister owing to a variety of reasons, Musharraf's resignation is a Godsent opportunity for him that he must grab with both hands.

Should Zardari, who has decided to play a role of a king maker soon after February 18 elections, agree to the proposition which has come to him in the shape of a concrete proposal backed by not only his own party, but Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a pro-Musharraf party, he would never like to become a ceremonial president at any cost.

CONSIDER: Why should he give up his position of being a pro-active party chief who has even outpaced Congress president Sonia Gandhi through his input in the government policy-making without any fears of accountability in the legislature or a party backlash?

The Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government has often been a target of criticism because of Sonia's overall involvement in the policy strengthening and implementation process of the UPA government. But this has not deterred her as she is said to be the one and only one who conceives and plans things from her party's perspective and the bureaucrat-turned politician Singh is always there to execute her decisions.

As party chief, Sonia is said to have successfully worked towards helping Manmohan Singh defeat a no-confidence move against the UPA government only recently. The feat of Zardari was even greater in similar circumstances as it is widely believed that it was Zardari who played the most crucial role in defeating a no-trust motion against his wife Benazir Bhutto during her first term as prime minister. Remember, Zardari wasn't the PPP chairman or co-chairman in October 1990.

What could the PPP possibly do to accomplish its task of making Zardari president in case PML-N withdraws its support to the coalition is a question that must have been addressed by Zardari the moment his party forged an alliance with the Nawaz-led PML.

Chasms that appeared in the PML-Q following its massive defeat in elections have alarmingly widened after Musharraf's resignation. This was highly anticipated by many including Zardari. Those falling out from the fold or those who are left in the party will be there for Zardari to do the needful.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the disgruntled PML-Q elements become part of the PML-N or extending their support to Zardari on the pattern of those who formed the breakaway faction of Pakistan People's Party-PPP Patriots. It also remains to be seen whether or not PML-N will rescind its decision in relation to its position and ultimately extend its support to Zardari's candidature as a result of a new deal stipulating the restoration of judges next week.

A slogan raised by one of the senior Congress leaders for Indira Gandhi that "Indira is India and India is Indira" later transformed into a popular slogan among the party rank and file as "Sonia is Congress and Congress is Sonia". Asif Zardari seems to be making similar waves: "Zardari is PPP and PPP is Zardari".

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008