Comments on: President Asif Ali Zardari - An endorsement - Why not?

By: Umar

Umar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:24:46 +0000

Dear Mr Pitafi,
Are you really that naïve?

By: Riaz Haq

Riaz Haq — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:31:03 +0000

Is Zardari fit to become president? Has he miraculously recovered from his mental condition that he successfully used to avoid a British court ordered appearance on corruption charges? Please read: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1836468,00.html

By: Farrukh

Farrukh — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:30:01 +0000

First of all Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is a friend. He believes that this particular interview misquoted him. And if I have not forgotten Haq you have always been averse to him.
The rest as I have mentioned earlier is urban legend or political propaganda. The establishment and the media of Pakistan in many cases have been loath to the house of Bhuttos. If you believe in this trumped up evidence tell me why despite remaining in the prison for a decade he has not been indicted by any court? I tell you why because this all socalled evidence is spoof. As for the source of the wealth do you remember that the elder Bhutto was among the biggest landholders in Pakistan. What would you say if he had invested outside the country before being hanged? Benazir would not likely disclose that owing to the fear of vendetta. And my dear only some investment in that time could have become a humungous wealth by now. But no we won’t give such ideas a thought. All we do is readily digest the establishment’s propaganda perhaps because it is convenient to hate him and in fashion too. Yet I don’t intend to force my worldview on you. All I insist upon is my right to have an opinion. Tell me why have you not seen any international charges of corruption on any retired or serving general too? Have you read Ayesha Siddiqua Agha’s book? Despite that never? Because the establishments cover each other’s secrets and defame the politicians.

By: Riaz Haq

Riaz Haq — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:42:02 +0000

In June 2008, senior PPP leader and president of Pakistan’s Supreme Court Bar Association, Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan, who was interior minister in Benazir Bhutto’s first government, told James Traub of the New York Times that most of the corruption and criminal cases against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari which were dropped recently in Pakistan were justified, and that the PPP was a feudal political party led by a figure (Zardari) accused of corruption and violence. After a moment’s reflection, Ahsan further added, “The type of expenses that she had and he has are not from sources of income that can be lawfully explained and accounted for.”

Swiss Judge DeVaud’s findings clearly established many instances of corruption by Bhutto and Zardari, but the accused finagled an NRO from Musharraf under US pressure, even before their appeal could be heard in Switzerland. Now it seems the cases will proceed in spite of the NRO.

For example: In 1997, after Zardari had been imprisoned on suspicion of corruption, Judge Devaud found that Bhutto herself had purchased a necklace worth 117,000 British pounds from a London jeweler—using cash and a bank transfer from the account of Bomer Finance, a British Virgin Islands company, which the magistrate said was jointly controlled by Bhutto and Zardari. (Her supporters claimed this allegation was based on trumped-up evidence supplied by her political enemies. Bhutto herself reportedly claimed her husband had bought the necklace but never told her about it).

Farrukh: I think you are either unaware of or deliberately do not want to know or accept the fact that Zardari is the most violent and extraordinarily corrupt figure in the history of Pakistani politics.

By: lala

lala — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:33:03 +0000

you have got 2 bekidding me…dude i use to read ur articles with interest and always thought that u love pakistan and were neutral…so now we go back to square 1 again another “chor” for president aND u say he will do a good job…these guys are the reason y we have insurgency…..the only thing that will save pakistan if there is a revolution…ppl need to shut the country down and send all tese chors packing ..inckuding zardari and his buddy altaf…once a thief always a thief.

By: Farrukh

Farrukh — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:05:17 +0000

Haq, thanks for your assessment of Fazlur Rehman but I beg to differ. As for the pending cases against Zardari I have this to say that the presence of a case is by no means a proof of delinquency. That needs evidence. And unfortunately we make our minds based on hearsay rather than our own experience. We are given to what I call the Urban Legends. Someone told you that someone else’s brother saw Zardari accepting bribe. No first person witness accounts and certainly not your own accounts. If we accept these claims on face value it is because the establishment influenced media had made it impossible to like him. Just see his pictures of that time and you’ll notice a conscious malice even in photography.
And yes NB trusting him with running the country and deciding the country’s direction. I know you do not trust him too much but do I not have the right? I do not make assessments upon the preconceived notions especially the ones that were fed to us by a biased culture. I believe he can be a good President especially if he stays away from the sycophants. And with due respect we can tolerate dictators for decades but we do not have an iota of trust for the democratic parties. Why is it so? You talk of the credibility deficit? Tell me how much one man can steal? Let us work to strengthen democracy not weaken it.

By: NB

NB — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:00:14 +0000

Do I trust Zardari? I’d have to ask with what?

1. To stand by his word? Hardly. Today the headlines quoted him as saying that ‘Political accords are not Quran or Hadith’, i.e. that political promises are not sacrosanct. Which is fair enough, but not exactly what you want to hear from a man who has had consistant credibility problem his entire life.

2. To govern efficiently, effectively and with honesty? Nope. Hes not experienced enough to do it himself or sincere enough to hire the right people. Moreover I get the feeling hes far too paranoid to even focus on administration. But im hoping to be wrong on all counts.

3. To govern relatively more efficiently than Nawaz? Sure, but thats mainly attributable to Nawaz and the inverse relationship between his ego and his intelligence.

By: NB

NB — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:47:14 +0000

Do I trust Zardari? With what exactly?

Keeping his word? Today the headlines quoted him as saying something to the effect that “Political accords do not amount to the Quran or Hadith”. I.e. political promises arent particulalry sacrosacnt. Which is fair enough, but hardly trust inspiring, esp coming from someone who has always suffered from a massive credibility problem.

Do i trust him to run the country efficiently? Id have to say No to that one too.

Do i trust hell be better than Nawaz? Absolutely, though I will say that as a Pakistani, I am tired of choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea.

By: Riaz Haq

Riaz Haq — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:52:39 +0000

I think Maulana Fazlur Rahman is the smartest politician in Pakistan, light years ahead of Zardari, Sharif or Altaf or any others in Pak politics. I can see why he is holding his cards to his chest. I invite you to read more about Zardari at http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/08/zardari-corruption-probe-alive-in.html