President Zardari has outsmarted all his political contemporaries in the country. He has proved to be smarter and more cunning than his predecessors. But this unfortunately comes with the active support of the Americans. Zia did it, fought and won the Afghan war for them but when he stopped dancing to the masters’ tunes, he was easily eliminated. Musharraf did it, dodged them until they turned their back on him.
Zardari too has played the innings well, obviously at the behest of the masters. But it seems his time has come to a close. Billions of dollars he has already made but of what use if he faces the Hosni or Marcos like fate. He has so far played as a Sindhi Baloch feudal in Pakistan. Can he play as a statesman for Pakistan now?
One wonders what is making him believe that the US will not betray him. Before the US gets rid of him can he pre-empt by honouring Supreme Court’s verdicts on NRO and other cases, take a lead in bringing back his wealth from abroad, stop protecting the corrupt and dishonest, put an end to cronyism and restore system of merit, do away with political expediency under the garb of policy of reconciliation and carryout across the board accountability of the wrongdoers? Mr President, show your mettle, it is time to save Pakistan. You will see the whole Pakistan behind your back. Get perished or make a history.
ALYA ALVI
Rawalpindi
