A lonely father facing mother of all troubles

A lonely father facing mother of all troubles

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 By Sharmila Faruqui ‘My husband is a friend of friends,’ .... Benazir Bhutto Shaheed described her high profile, highly victimised and grossly demonized Asif Ali Zardari in one of her last remarks. Indeed, she was right. He has proved her correct at every stage, suffering immensely at the hands of both friends and foes. Zardari, a firm believer of ‘never say die’ has proved his detractors wrong time and again. This week the much-maligned Zardari is completing one year in office as the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a country of 180 million at war against terrorism and with itself, craving to win for its existence. The man deserves credit for spearheading the most difficult war of the 21st century. The war mongers have miserably failed to snatch the broad smile that baffles his greatest detractors. Even in a pensive mood he keeps smiling that baffles his greatest critics and arch rivals. His smile has kept this beleaguered nation alive to the grave day-to-day ground realities of Pakistan in the last quarter of 2009. It has never been a bed of roses for the father of Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa, who has had to act as their mother as well since the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. One year is no period to judge a president, who presides over a struggling nation that witnesses crisis after crisis at regular intervals starting from the judicial upheaval to sugar, wheat and flour shortages to unpredictable power breakdowns to sometimes wavering overseas friends but he always manages the last laugh. He has boldly faced an unending tirade of wild charges, fake scandals, unsubstantiated corruption stories and sensational media trial. He has braved ferocious and pervasive attacks by the ‘friendly opposition’ in collaboration with untamed and furious right wing media organisations. This is typical of Zardari; he knows when to play on the front foot and when to avoid rushing unannounced bouncers. He is a player of his own class ... almost peerless. Despite usual hiccups, for this nation and for the whole world the most satisfying factor is his winning the war of terrorism that was unleashed against Pakistan by an enemy that knew no boundaries and has no limits of its brutality and cruelty. Zardari himself is a victim of this war on terrorism. He lost his own wife Benazir Bhutto. Millions cried for the angel that fell on the fateful evening of December 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi. Another Karbala that the people shall always remember as they pay her tribute day and night and cherish her great memory. No doubt the president of Pakistan is hundred per cent serious and determined to finish the job and bring the culprits to book that they rightly deserve. One such merchant of death Baitullah Mahsud was killed few weeks before Zardari completes his first year in office; the world is a safer place since Mahsud was annihilated in a drone attack at his hideout. This one achievement is sufficient to judge Zardari’s caliber for the highest office and definitely the most difficult job on this planet. To accomplish Shaheed Benazir’s grand mission of ‘Roti, Kapra and Makan’ Asif Ali Zardari is virtually running from pillar to post; one morning he is in London the next he is found on the Atlantic shores from where he jets towards the Mediterranean and then to the Middle East. The man leaves no stone unturned to bring money for his country. He never takes a begging bowl rather he negotiates the significance of his country as a bulwark against highly funded terrorism. He urges the United States to expedite reimbursement of $1.6 billion worth outstanding payment in the Coalition Support Fund, an early passage of Kerry-Lugar Bill to the quick legislation to set up reconstruction opportunity zones in war-torn areas of Pakistan. He seeks payment assistance for the energy sector and massive $2.5 billion plan for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. He talks to ‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan’ and makes urgent pleas for the much needed help. And the world leaders help him; they know they are helping a real friend in need, from the US president Barrack Obama to Saudi monarch King Abdullah to Chinese President Hu Jin Tao to Gordon Brown of the UK; he is at ease with all and they trust him immensely. Asif Ali Zardari has gained this trust due to the fact that he is sincere to this country and to his nation as he takes it out of the woods. He is no despot, he is a democrat, a tolerant to the core leader, legally, constitutionally and democratically elected president of Pakistan for a full five-year term. Overseas friends and partners have total faith in the man who was no candidate for the top slot. Even his detractors agree that in the post-Benazir era when the chips were down and prophets of doom were forecasting a gloomy scenario, he took up the challenge to steer this nation out of troubled waters as he raised the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’ with misty eyes as the whole world was watching him in Larkana, the land of Bhuttos who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan. True, the task ahead is gigantic and against all odds. There are long queues for wheat flour and sugar. The petroleum prices have just witnessed a hike and subsidies are to be removed over gas and electricity yet there is a silver lining; the Karachi Stock Market is bouncing back. 100 index has crossed the psychological barrier of 8600 points that was down to half a year ago. This alone is no mean achievement. A lot has to be done indeed. Benazir Income Support Programme and Benazir Behan Basti Programme are just a few among the many projects launched to provide much needed relief to the downtrodden womenfolk of this country; Friends of Democratic Pakistan are lunging forward to help. They all trust the man who treats this nation and its people like he treats Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa. He believes in forgetting and forgiving; following a reconciliatory policy. He is a leader in his own right and has proved it without a shadow of doubt. He is a lonely father who is facing mother of all troubles, chin high. This is Asif Ali Zardari. 9th Sept 2008 to 9th Sept 2009. Happy Birthday Mr President. Pakistan Khappay The author is an adviser to the Sindh chief minister