Zardari's political acumen gives birth to new realities

PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Zardari has all the necessary qualifications to replace President Pervez Musharraf as the President of Pakistan. His person symbolises the unity of federation as he hails from the small province of Sindh and is acceptable to all the four federating units. These were the three most essential qualification needed in a candidate to become the President of Pakistan. A quick look into his actions immediately after February 18 elections give ample evidence that he is the man who can bring the federation together. His policy of reconciliation and bringing all the friends and former foes on one platform has given rich political dividends to Pakistan.

He invited ANP and JUI (F) to join the national government created with the support of PML (N). He gave PML (N) the province of Punjab though he could have easily formed his own government. But it was his policy of reconciliation that he stretched in Punjab. He made a political coup in Sindh where against all opposition from the party hawks and nationalist forces, he invited MQM to join the Sindh government. His policy of reconciliation also succeeded in Balochistan. Thus Zardari has been successful in bringing together all political forces to work for the smooth running of the new set-up democratic process.

His policies have been so successful that Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed Prime Minister with number of opposition members abstaining during vote of confidence in the National assembly.

The biggest achievement of Zardari in bringing the federation together was the vote of “no confidence” against Pervez Musharraf in four provincial assemblies including in Sindh where the strongest supporter of Musharraf, MQM abstained enabling the Sindh assembly to pass unanimously the vote of “no confidence”.