Zardari's disabilities

A day after the president's resignation the PPP co-chairman went back on his word saying he was not bound to carry out the agreement. First he maintained that he had signed the document without reading it. (One wonders about the fate of the country with a president who signs agreements without reading them). Subsequently he took the stand that that a political accord was not a hadith and therefore had no sanctity. The view negates one of the basic values of Pakistani society where a man is rated among other things on the basis of his adherence to his promise. Among the Baloch the promise, or qawl, has to be implemented even at the cost of one's life. The war between the Rind and Lashar tribes that took the toll of thousands from both sides was fought because Mir Chakar Khan Rind though he was honour bound to come to the rescue of a helpless woman whose person and property he had promised to protect. In Punjab, Sindh and NWFP also the qawl is considered inviolable.

Even in the modern business world much of the daily transaction depends on promises. The currency notes are accepted on the basis of the promise to honour them printed on their face. The entire economic system would collapse if promises and accords were treated in a cavalier like fashion.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not the only person to react with surprise and suspicion when Mr Zardari made the fateful remark. Who will like to deal with a man who maintains that political accords can be broken at will? Who will now take the Charter of Democracy seriously, or for that matter the PPP's favourite slogan of providing roti, kapra and makan?

And now comes the story of Mr Zardari's secret contacts with US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad. Many had believed that all vital policy decisions concerning the fate of the country were being taken by Mr Zardari in consultation with a close group of un-elected aides including Advisor for Interior Rehman Malik. Many have been shocked to know that Mr Khalilzad is also one of the persons whose "advice and help" was being assiduously sought by him. Mr Zardari in fact told US Assistant Secretary Boucher that he was doing so. The dependence on the American official was so great that during the last one month the two had telephonic conversations several times a week.