Zardari's surprise return

Much to the disappointment of his opponents, President Zardari has returned home almost a week earlier than expected even by his own partymen. Prime Minister Gilani was of the view that after leaving hospital the president would rest for a fortnight or so at his home in Dubai. Some others had forecast his return by the December 27, the death anniversary of his spouse Benazir Bhutto. But at no time did his partymen doubt his return to Pakistan - that being the only certainty in the sea of uncertainties. Rightly then his earlier-than-expected arrival back home would help induct an element of clarity to the state of abounding doubts about what compelled him to leave post-haste for Dubai. Did he leave the country to seek medical treatment abroad or was it his 'apprehension' of being trapped in the Memogate scandal that triggered his departure? And, when it became increasingly clear that he genuinely needed hospitalisation, then some of his political opponents demanded certification of his fitness to continue in office only if cleared by a medical board under Article 47 of the Constitution. The confusion that surrounded President Zardari's absence from the country was as much the product of his own partymen as of the political opposition's wishful thinking. Had there been a single-source information, in the form of his hospital's bulletin or his spokesman Farhatullah Babar's version, the president's absence on medical grounds should not have been such rich grist for the rumour mills. It's in the fitness of things, and also a standard procedure all over the world, that for information on the health of persons in high offices the government should specify the source. The health of President Zardari and the hearing of the Memogate scandal by the Supreme Court are two separate issues, but unfortunately these are widely perceived as a cause-and-effect situation. The Memogate scandal stands on its own two feet and is before the Supreme Court. How it will play out, the matter being sub judice there is no comment. But as to its impact on the political scenario some notable developments have taken place in the country. For one an air of election has come to obtain as the entire political opposition, especially which is out of the elected house, has vociferously renewed its demand for immediate elections, with a fringe of it calling for a caretaker set-up on the Bangladesh model. We tend to believe that in the Gilani-Kayani meeting, during which the army chief had also spoken to President Zardari, probably a roadmap was drawn up to dispel near-to-belief speculation of the Zardari-Gilani government's stiff face-off with the judiciary and army. As to what was the content of that caucus its fuller disclosure would help remove murkiness that envelops the state of the nation, otherwise the stink of some kind of 'deal' would permeate the polity. Severed from the Memogate saga and its fate, the President Zardari's political acumen remains legendary. Given he has succeeded in fixing up a coalition government which happens to have survived for the longest period in Pakistan's parliamentary history it is only his art of statecraft. Who could believe that he could stitch up a life-saving patch up with the Chaudhrys-led PML (Q)? That he had kept the main opposition, Sharifs-led PML (N) in a state of indecision for good three years and according to some that double-mindedness still persists, it goes to President Zardari's credit. The PPP's coalition partners didn't come to the departure lounge when the rumour factories worked overtime and speculation about his future was rife is nothing but a political miracle. Isn't it good enough reason for the government to claim that it continues to have the confidence of the people and there is no need to go for snap elections? But that is not to say that with his coming home and restoring political calm to some degree obviates the need to squarely face challenges the country braving today. While lawlessness remains unchallenged and basic needs of people remain largely unmet, the national economy is in a free fall with not much in evidence to suggest that its recovery is in sight any time soon. In fact, the national economy is getting fragile by the day. Things as they exist today increasingly place us against a quixotic backdrop, as our political elite is worried only about how to come to power and retain it by hook or by crook. No surprise then as long as the Memogate saga remains alive the politicians have a 'great cause' to fight for, consigning their interest in the general masses' welfare to the backseat. That's why the broad masses find them sitting on another planet and not the one where Pakistan is placed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2011