Making A Difference

Cent Per Cent Liability

Zardari's vaulting ambitions may cause his wife's downfall

Advertisement

Cent Per Cent Liability
info_icon

WHEN Asif Zardari was about to marry Benazir Bhutto after her return from London in 1986, they had a pact: that he would never venture into politics. Ten years later, he has not just earned a reputation of being the most powerful person in Benazir's two tenures as prime minister, he is even accused of running a parallel government. In the event, he has become her most trusted ally and troubleshooter. Now he is turning into her biggest liability.

During Benazir's first tenure from 1988 to 1990, he was a source of constant embarrassment for her. Operating out of an office in the Prime Minister's secretariat, he would strike business deals and interfere in other government matters... soon earning the sobriquet 'Mr 10 per cent'. 

Advertisement

Things became so tacky that Benazir had to ask him to move out of the secretariat. And when her government was dismissed on charges of corruption by then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Zardari was portrayed as the root cause.

In the 1990 elections, he formally entered politics and won a seat from the PPP's stronghold in the interior Sindh. During Nawaz Sharif's government, he was jailed for about two years on charges ranging from corruption to kidnapping for ranson. Acquitted in all cases, he claimed he was innocent. And Benazir touted the old 'character assassination' line: that her husband was being persecuted to force her out of politics.

Advertisement

In the 1993 elections, Zardari again won elections from Nawabahah. And fresh tales of money-making started doing the rounds. The Opposition constantly portrayed Zardari—now regarded as the richest man in Pakistan—as the ultimate symbol of corruption. And most of the blame for such an image will stick to the man.

The head of every financial institution is said to be Zardari's man. It's said that when you can't get something done through the prime minister, her husband is always there, particularly in money matters. And that no lucrative contract or deal is possible sans an access to him. The < last straw was the story that Benazir and Zardari have bought a 335-acre mansion in Surrey, England, which left PPP supporters in shock.

His activities have greatly damaged Benazir's political image. A complete set of cronies—mostly from Sindh—have sprung into prominence around him in the PPP. Says an embittered partyman: "Zardari's influence over PPP affairs and his high profile in the government has harmed our party more than the hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto."

Among Zardari's friends is Javed Pasha, who also figures in the Opposition's allegations. He has been given the licence to run FM radio channels and TV networks in the country. Zardari's school chum, Major (retd) Masood Sharif, heads the Intelligence Bureau.

As for the Surrey scandal, the government has issued denials but is yet to sue Sunday Express which broke the story. Now the Opposition has furnished a list of phone calls made from the Surrey mansion to Pasha's offices in Pakistan. Enough evidence, it's claimed, to link the Prime Minister's family with the £2.5 million estate deal.

Advertisement

To top it all, when Benazir expanded her cabinet in July, Zardari was made Minister for Investment—a portfolio that lent itself to his alleged operations. The allegation that the government was becoming a domestic concern stung many in the PPP. A party leader commented soon after that the step would further erode the the government's credibility.

There is a more serious spin off to his enlarged role in state affairs. His coterie is reportedly building the impression with him that he is worthy of much more than just being the prime minister's spouse. Some even consider him the alternative to Benazir in the PPP. Others call this wishful thinking. They argue that, sans cadre support, he would be nothing if Benazir were to dump him. Says a family source: "Benazir is helpless because inside she is a typical eastern woman who has submitted her fate before her husband."

Advertisement

Tags

    Advertisement

    Advertisement

    Advertisement

    Advertisement

    Advertisement

    Advertisement