President hands PM nuclear arms role

President Asif Ali Zardari has transferred control of the countrys nuclear weapons to the prime minister in an apparent move to blunt criticism of his excessive authority and head off demands for his resignation.
Passing chairmanship of the authority that oversees Pakistans nuclear weapons from the president to the prime minister makes little practical difference to Pakistans nuclear programme, which remains under the militarys control. But analysts say it is the first sign that Mr Zardari is willing to yield part of his authority.
The president is under pressure to replace some of his key aides who escaped prosecution on corruption charges under a controversial amnesty that expired at the weekend.
This change [of authority] does indicate President Zardaris willingness to surrender some of his powers in line with popular demands, said Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistans former ambassador to the US and the UK.
The amnesty, introduced in a presidential decree by former president Pervez Musharraf under a deal with Mr Zardaris Pakistan Peoples party (PPP), benefited as many as 8,000 people who had faced corruption charges, including Mr Zardari and four cabinet ministers.
On Sunday night, senior government officials said a new period of political discord might begin soon if opponents of the amnesty launched street protests agitating for all of its beneficiaries to be prosecuted.
Mr Zardari cannot be prosecuted because of an immunity granted to anyone elected as president. But if his close political allies were prosecuted, it could weaken his leadership which is seen as central to plans by the US and other western powers to stabilise Pakistans long border region along Afghanistan.
On Saturday, Yusuf Raza Gilani, prime minister, said Mr Zardaris decision was in line with preserving and promoting the countrys democracy, almost two years after Mr Musharraf stepped down as chief of the armys staff, ending direct military rule. We are moving straight and in the right direction. God willing, there is no threat to this government, said Mr Gilani.
Western diplomats say it is too early to suggest that Mr Zardaris days as president of Pakistan are numbered, in spite of speculation in parts of Pakistans media that he is set to make his last stand.
By giving up his hold over the nuclear arsenal, President Zardaris constitutional position as head of state remains unaffected, said one western diplomat. He is under pressure, but it is far from certain that his political downfall is in any way looking imminent.
A senior government official with frequent access to Mr Zardari said: The president is nowhere even near packing his bags. He is trying to be more democratic than his predecessor by giving more powers to the prime minister but he is far from history.(FT)