Zardari: modest builder to powerful president

Asif Ali Zardari has come a long way in treacherous, unpredictable, bloody politics of Pakistan. He was a modest builder in the city and his only fame was that he was son of Hakim Ali Zardari, who owned Bambino cinema in early 1970s. That cinema was sort of status symbol; elite class people used to go there with families and relish mostly English movies. Begum Nusrat Bhutto once charmed the cinema with her presence. It was Karachi of the past; liberal and tolerant. The only son of HAZ brought up in that Karachi and refused to leave that label. He loved it, he love this city and values his long association.

He had his first encounter with city reporters when he was a builder and he used to visit building control department where its boss Ahmed Husain was his friend. I vividly remember young Zardari of that era, energetic, rude and crude but friendly with lower staff; he used to have lunch with all and sundry. True he was not a successful builder but he had some projects to his credit. Father wanted his son to join his business and AAZ had full backing since he was his only son. Both incidentally participated in the polls conducted by dreaded Ziaul Haq and lost; Benazir Bhutto had boycotted those 1985 polls. She returned to a tumultuous welcome in 1986 and stormed into Pakistani politics. Her movement to force Zia for autumn election failed but she by that time won the heart of Asif Zardari. A dreaded job by any standards; those who knew Benazir can understand this. Young man was tired of watching Benazir processions back and forth in Clifton. The most popular politician this country had produced was his bride in 1987. Within one year of that marriage Benazir was taking oath as the first lady prime minister of a Muslim country.