Voted to power

MR Asif Ali Zardari's victory over his rivals by a wide margin to become the 12th President of the country was a foregone conclusion. He obtained 479 electoral votes against PML(N) candidate Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui's 153 and PML(Q) candidate Mushahid Hussain Sayed's 43, as the counting at the National Assembly, the Senate and four provincial assemblies came to an end on Saturday afternoon. Enjoying the support of several other parties, the PPP's Co-Chairman will be perhaps Pakistan's most powerful civilian head of state, especially with the fate of 58(2)(b) and the 17th amendment not yet clearly determined. And unless his political support wanes, he would, in effect, retain undisputed control over affairs of the state, even though he would have these constitutional appendages removed. Now, all and sundry, both from within and the outside world that is worried at the rising phenomenon of militancy in the tribal areas and the unending violence in Afghanistan, would be having their eyes on him to see whether he is able to deliver.