Nawaz vs Zardari

One has to recognize that Zardari has, at least in the short-run, outwitted and outplayed Nawaz Sharif.
Nawaz clung to the hope that Zardari too, in the larger interest of democracy and the country, would go along with him to undo the arbitrary and unconstitutional acts of Musharraf. Zardari had successfully captured the PPP leadership after the untimely death of Benazir Bhutto and managed to carry with him most of the political parties. In particular, he wooed the PML(N) and led it up the garden path persuading it to join the coalition government at the centre and accommodate PPP in the Punjab. Nawaz Sharif looked forward to happy days when the promise of the Charter of Democracy would be fulfilled. He was determined to restore Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry as the chief justice of Pakistan. All elected PML(N) MNAs took an oath at Raiwind to work for CJ's reinstatement. He was able to secure a solemn pledge from Zardari for restoration of all the judges removed in November 2007. Zardari however backtracked. Nawaz Sharif persisted in his quest. Another agreement was signed. Again Zardari dilly-dallied. A constitutional package was produced by him like a rabbit out of the juggler's hat. Nawaz kept pursuing him. Realising that it was a wild goose chase, PML(N) withdrew from the coalition. It was not keen to continue having PPP as a coalition partner in the Punjab but PPP refused to leave.
Zardari at one stage had raised hopes for judges' restoration but first Musharraf had to be got rid of. Within 24 hours of Musharraf exit, Zardari said, he would have the judges reinstated. Lo and behold as soon as Musharraf, under pressure from within and outside the country, quit, Zardari literally jumped into the presidency. Once inside the secure walls of the president's palace, Zardari decided to keep all the special powers Musharraf had grabbed for himself and spurned all pleas to honour his promises to do away with 58(2)(b) of the constitution and the 17th amendment. He would rather continue to exercise all the powers of the discredited dictator. His handpicked prime minister who constitutionally the chief executive of the country and whose advice he was required to follow was reduced to a docile subordinate. He would be summoned to the palace, sit with the "boss" hold meetings and carry out orders and directives. All the major decisions were being taken by Zardari.