From the frying pan into the fire

In the meantime, Mr Zardari seems to have rubbed America the wrong way by secretly hobnobbing with the US ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad. The State Department has snubbed and disciplined Khalilzad, and they are also browned off with Zardari for talking to Zalmay apparently behind their back. Their exchanges with Khalilzad have been promptly followed by the publication in a British newspaper of Zardari' s medical reports about him having had psychiatric problems, thus casting doubts on his suitability for the high office of the president. The medical reports have come too soon after the Zalmay episode to be a coincidence.

On the other side of the political divide, PML-N and PML-Q are coming together, and there is even talk of them becoming one party. The APDM, citing the critical situation in the country, have asked for postponement of the presidential election for a month to allow the different parties to bring forward a consensus candidate from the small provinces. If the US shifts its support from PPP to the PML-N, given its all - pervasive influence in the country, it could create problems for Zardari.

From the point of view of those who do not want to see Zardari as the president, the biggest problem is that the election is just a week away. In this connection one of my friends said that he was seeking divine intervention to prevent Zardari becoming president. At this I had to remind him that divine interventions do not take place in this day and age.

To the allegation that Zardari broke his promise three times, the PPP wallas on TV programmes give all sorts of explanations; however, they are able to convince neither the other panellist's nor the viewers. In the meantime, this once-great party continues to lose whatever credibility it has left.

The writer is a former principal of the King Edward Medical College and president of the College of Surgeons and Physicians

E-mail: drijaz@nation.com.pk