ISLAMABAD – Struggling to survive an increasing unpopularity and strained relations with the powerful military, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to surrender his all key powers to the parliament and the Prime Minister and stay as a “toothless” inhabitant of the president house. “He (Zardari) has left hardly an option for him,” senior political analyst Ansar Abbasi told IslamOnline Saturday, December 5.
“This all exercise may make a time difference, otherwise, he will have to leave, later or sooner.”
"Mr Ten percent" Steals Pakistan Show
Zardari Exile club Back
Embattled Zardari has agreed to surrender his all key powers to the parliament and the prime minister, well-placed sources in the president house said. He has agreed to give up his authority to appoint the all three services chiefs, the judges of the Supreme and High Courts and annual Constitutional article 58-2B, which grants the president the right to dissolve parliament and sack his premier and the cab.
He has also announced the annulment of the controversial 17th amendment inducted by former president Pervez Musharraf to keep all powers in his hand by the year-end.
Last week, Zardari, the chairman of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), transferred the country’s nuclear arsenal to his premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“This all will leave Zardari as a toothless president,” said Abbasi.
“But the story will not end here,” he said.
“He is also the co-chairman of the ruling party. And this is against the political and democratic norms that the president holds the office of a particular political party because he (president) is the symbol of federation, and cannot be partisan.”
At Stake
Zardari’s future as president is at stake as his fate would be determined by the courts. “Zardari’s future as a president overwhelmingly depends upon courts,” Abbasi said.
“Though, under the constitution, he enjoys immunity from appearing before any court of law, however, this immunity has also become controversial as the legal fraternity believes that the president does not enjoy immunity in criminal cases.”
A lawsuits has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging Zardari’s dual position as president and chairman of the ruling party.
His exoneration from corruption and criminal charges under a controversial national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) has also been challenged in the Supreme Court.
“He either will have to stay as a toothless president with no grip on party or parliamentary affairs, or he will have to quit the president house to at least have a grip on the party in line with Sonia Ghandi of Indian Congress,” said Abbasi, referring to the widow of slain premier Rajeev Ghandi, who is leading the government as head of the ruling party.
But Hamid Mir, an Islamabad-based political analyst, believes otherwise.
“I believe that Zardari has bright chances of survival because he has made up his mind to surrender all key powers to the prime minister and the parliament under the constitution, and stay as a toothless president,” he told IOL.
“He has realized that his political survival is only possible in this case.”
Mir opines that Zardari has agreed to give up his powers upon an advice from opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, the chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), who reportedly assured him of his support.
“Zardari has decided to go with Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
“They both have decided to resist any unconstitutional change. That is why, Zardari has bright chances to survive, despite a bad governance and rampant corruption.”
Mistrust
Analysts believe that mutual mistrust is growing between the beleaguered president and the powerful military.
“Different events ranging from Kerry Lugar bill to undue concessions to India, and from corruption charges to bad governance, have created lack of trust between the military-civil bureaucracy, political parties, and Mr Zardari”, Abbasi said, referring to a controversial US aid package to Pakistan. Mir Agrees.
“Lack of trust is an underestimated word,” he said.
“Zardari is equally responsible for widening this trust deficit with army by entertaining some undue demands from America vis-à-vis army, especially the inter services intelligence (ISI),” he said, referring to Zardari’s bid to bring ISI, the country’s formidable spy agency under control of the interior ministry upon US demands.
But the bid was briskly foiled by the powerful army.
Mir believes that despite a huge deficit trust, both side have very limited options.
“In my opinion, this marriage of convenience will continue because the two sides have very limited options,” he said.
“The army is already engaged in Waziristan and Balochistan, and cannot afford any political turmoil in the country.”
Source: IslamOnline
“This all exercise may make a time difference, otherwise, he will have to leave, later or sooner.”
"Mr Ten percent" Steals Pakistan Show
Zardari Exile club Back
Embattled Zardari has agreed to surrender his all key powers to the parliament and the prime minister, well-placed sources in the president house said. He has agreed to give up his authority to appoint the all three services chiefs, the judges of the Supreme and High Courts and annual Constitutional article 58-2B, which grants the president the right to dissolve parliament and sack his premier and the cab.
He has also announced the annulment of the controversial 17th amendment inducted by former president Pervez Musharraf to keep all powers in his hand by the year-end.
Last week, Zardari, the chairman of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), transferred the country’s nuclear arsenal to his premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“This all will leave Zardari as a toothless president,” said Abbasi.
“But the story will not end here,” he said.
“He is also the co-chairman of the ruling party. And this is against the political and democratic norms that the president holds the office of a particular political party because he (president) is the symbol of federation, and cannot be partisan.”
At Stake
Zardari’s future as president is at stake as his fate would be determined by the courts. “Zardari’s future as a president overwhelmingly depends upon courts,” Abbasi said.
“Though, under the constitution, he enjoys immunity from appearing before any court of law, however, this immunity has also become controversial as the legal fraternity believes that the president does not enjoy immunity in criminal cases.”
A lawsuits has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging Zardari’s dual position as president and chairman of the ruling party.
His exoneration from corruption and criminal charges under a controversial national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) has also been challenged in the Supreme Court.
“He either will have to stay as a toothless president with no grip on party or parliamentary affairs, or he will have to quit the president house to at least have a grip on the party in line with Sonia Ghandi of Indian Congress,” said Abbasi, referring to the widow of slain premier Rajeev Ghandi, who is leading the government as head of the ruling party.
But Hamid Mir, an Islamabad-based political analyst, believes otherwise.
“I believe that Zardari has bright chances of survival because he has made up his mind to surrender all key powers to the prime minister and the parliament under the constitution, and stay as a toothless president,” he told IOL.
“He has realized that his political survival is only possible in this case.”
Mir opines that Zardari has agreed to give up his powers upon an advice from opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, the chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), who reportedly assured him of his support.
“Zardari has decided to go with Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
“They both have decided to resist any unconstitutional change. That is why, Zardari has bright chances to survive, despite a bad governance and rampant corruption.”
Mistrust
Analysts believe that mutual mistrust is growing between the beleaguered president and the powerful military.
“Different events ranging from Kerry Lugar bill to undue concessions to India, and from corruption charges to bad governance, have created lack of trust between the military-civil bureaucracy, political parties, and Mr Zardari”, Abbasi said, referring to a controversial US aid package to Pakistan. Mir Agrees.
“Lack of trust is an underestimated word,” he said.
“Zardari is equally responsible for widening this trust deficit with army by entertaining some undue demands from America vis-à-vis army, especially the inter services intelligence (ISI),” he said, referring to Zardari’s bid to bring ISI, the country’s formidable spy agency under control of the interior ministry upon US demands.
But the bid was briskly foiled by the powerful army.
Mir believes that despite a huge deficit trust, both side have very limited options.
“In my opinion, this marriage of convenience will continue because the two sides have very limited options,” he said.
“The army is already engaged in Waziristan and Balochistan, and cannot afford any political turmoil in the country.”
Source: IslamOnline
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