President steals the show

Demonstrating the iron resolve typical of a leader elected by heavy mandate from all the provinces, President Asif Ali Zardari stole the show at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the eve of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's fourth death anniversary and proved to the people of Pakistan that he is a true legatee of the legacy of ZAB Shaheed and BB Shaheed.
This is martyrdom from any worldly, ideological or social standards, as also elaborated on the same occasion by the most non-controversial leader, Aitzaz Ahsan. The latter simplified the concept of martyrdom so as to tell all and sundry that staring in the eyes of death despite warnings with a greater cause of public service in mind means martyrdom. Of course, it is martyrdom since BB Shaheed died with grace for a greater cause that of rejoining her compatriots for which she did not bother about the threats to her life.
On December 27 last, Zardari exuded the same high spirits which has given a new life to his party, PPP, that was being painted as having lost popularity in the wake of PTI's upsurge and Nawaz Sharif's anti-Zardari tirade. Nothing doing was the message sent loud and clear to all these detractors by almost half-a-million-strength crowd that had gathered at a spot like Garhi Khuda Bakhsh which is not as much attractive as Lahore or Karachi. They had gathered there to pay homage to their beloved leader, BB Shaheed.
What was really inspiring was President's determination and body language that smacked of his good mental and physical health. More inspiring was his declaration that he won't allow anyone to harm the federation. That is indeed an act of grace on the part of President Zardari rather on the part of the single largest political party of the country that it would neither play the Sindh card nor take to the path of confrontation as was being projected by many Nostradamus-like TV anchors and media analysts. "We will fight for democracy as we do not fight for seats and I'll never allow my people to fight or sacrifice for my sake."
And those guess-gamers in this lot also had to face lot of embarrassment who had been predicting with a touch of surety that 27th December would be the day of Zardari's departure, meaning his resignation. The guess game went wrong which has enhanced the confidence of PPP workers and activists. The President and PPP co-chairman made it clear to his party supporters that he would not resign as he also vowed to defend the Constitution without allowing anyone to damage the federation. It appears that the President means business as he has fully understood the meaning of the power behind him, ie the masses. That is why he was heard vowing to fight for democracy, "but in a democratic manner". "We will fight any evil eye that is a threat to the federation, but our way will be that of the democracy-loving Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kye."
The President has, for all practical purposes, put his opponents on the back foot or on the defensive by giving them no space for manoeuvre or for any adventure since he would play only the Constitution card and if the more-than-ever-before aware people of Pakistan become witness (as they have now become), it would be next to impossible for any ambitious adventurer to play an unconstitutional or an undemocratic game. It is wrong to say that these words uttered by the President would be taken as insinuations against some pivotal national institutions. Showing composure and resolve in a hostile milieu is not an insinuation directed against anyone. By addressing the top stratum of judiciary, the President has, in a way reposed his trust in them that they are the torchbearers of justice who were equipped with the power, the authority and the will to reform the system.
And as the President Zardari chose to use the occasion to dispel all the wrong impressions, he did full justice to that occasion and reiterated his oft-made clarification that all forces were under the parliament, adding he always listened to the prime minister because he represented the federation and was a representative of the people through the parliament. It was with that conviction that of nurturing the democracy that he (the President) handed over all powers to the Prime Minister.
And when he asked the people and the party workers to remain steadfast and not to be deterred by temporary challenges, he was believed by the masses, given the fact that like Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari too symbolises steadfastness and is an established fighter against challenges. And Gilani never stumbles at any stage, opines the President which is no less a tribute to the PM. Whatever their track record or irrespective of their rivals' allegations against these two personalities, no one can ever pronounce the President and the PM, timid or coward leaders as both of them have undergone unjust imprisonment for years and years together. This much of suffering without any justification even otherwise entitles the two leaders to be treated with grace and honour.
And can anyone disagree with the President that only real democracy could deliver and that attempts were being made to introduce "tailor-made democracies".
Likewise, one can hardly doubt the President's statements that the country had no leader after the death of ZAB Shaheed and that he gave an identity to the Pushtoon which no one can ever take back from them for centuries to come. Even the people of Balochistan trust him on his words that he wants to help them end their problems, though within the framework of the federation.
It is also wrong to assume that the PPP-led government was playing tool in the hands of foreign masters. Nothing of that sort, says the President who has declared quite emphatically that Pakistan had decided not to be part of any international war game. "We have decided not to join any 'theatre of war' which has nothing to do with us and as for entering into trade pacts with other countries, Pakistan would be free to exercise its choice and would not act on the behest of any other country. What else is sovereignty, it is now for the President's critics to define?