The Pakistani Spectator

It’s true that people of Pakistan were as dumb-founded as they are now on 18th February and the script of 18th February elections last year was written in Washington and it is being dictated, followed, watched-over and executed to the dot. With no Benazir in the world and no Nawaz Sharif in the assembly and a NRO-leashed president with a puppet lamb as Prime Minister, the real powers could do what the want.

But there are some of us who misunderstood the Asif Ali Zardari. They thought he was a changed man and really wanted to carry on with the legacy of his late wife. We thought that perhaps he was the unification force and would rise above the stature and at last we had found a diamond out of the coal mine. But then it was all illusion and self deception.

An amazing number of people who should have known better thought of him as “Mard-e-Hur” (A man of crisis) include even many intellectuals like Majid Nizami of Nawa-e-Waqt. People like Nazir Naji can be pardoned as they always tilt towards the power. But now even the Sindhi powerbase of the PPP cast it’s doubt over the man’s sincerety and his ability to steer the country right now.

There are clear reports emanating from Islamabad that Zardari could be shown the door as soon as at the end of coming March despite of US warnings to the king makers.  But king makers know that if Zardari remains at the top any longer, it wouldbe curtains for everyone.