In an orchestrated move, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has put forward the name of its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for presidential elections, giving a dramatic twist to the search for the successor of Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Party lawmakers, meeting under Zardari on Wednesday night, followed up an earlier suggestion in the day by MQM chief Altaf Hussain who profusely lauded Zardari’s sacrifices and services to the unity and solidarity of the country.
But sources said it was a device to clinch the issue at an early stage and upstage all other prospective candidates whose names are being floated from different quarters.
Zardari has also convened a meeting of the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) tomorrow, apparently to expedite and formalise the proposal before it is presented as a fait accompli to the coalition partners. Despite public disclaimers that he is not a candidate, Zardari first staked claim that the exalted office must go to the PPP, it being the majority party, and then launched the candidature through his loyalist Altaf Hussain, while promising to take the final decision after due consultation with allies.
Although the issue has yet not formally been taken up in the recent meetings of the coalition partners, a source said Zardari has been obliquely sounding
leadership of the smaller parties regarding his own candidature. He argued that a strong leadership would be needed to replace Musharraf and dispel current doubts about the fragile character of the Gilani government.
Other names were only floated to camouflage the move. After building a concerted campaign that the PPP has the right to occupy the office, Zardari asserted that the nominee should be Sindhi. He also went on to suggest that it could be a woman.
The PML-N had some inkling of the impending move but glossed over the stray vibes on this question because of involvement in the all-important issue of restoration of deposed judges. It expected this development immediately after ouster of Gen. Musharraf in accordance with an “ironclad” written commitment made by the PPP co-chairman.
The introduction of Altaf Hussain in the debate is designed to warn Nawaz Sharif that option of an alternative alignment is available to the PPP if he thinks of quitting the coalition.
Meanwhile, the latest procrastination by Zardari has taken PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif by surprise and caused considerable anguish and dismay. PML-N spokesman has described the move as unilateral. Critics have pointed out that the PPP is not a majority party but only enjoys the status of single largest party with 33 per cent members in a house of 342. It already occupies two key offices of speaker and prime minister. Sharif has suggested that candidates like Ataullah Mengal, Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui or Mahmood Achakzai could be considered because of their countrywide respect and stature.
