A president with absolute powers

Dubai: Asif Ali Zardari, co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has virtually gate-crashed into the presidency on Saturday but with the support of majority of the parliamentarians.

It goes without saying that he would be the most powerful civilian president in the history of Pakistan with absolute powers of dissolving the assemblies, appointing chiefs of armed forces, judges and governors in addition to holding the position of the chairman of the National Security Council of the country with nuclear capabilities.

These powers were entrusted to a president, thanks to the 17th amendment in the Constitution brought by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to empower presidency.

Zardari is the man who spent 11 years in jail and had no visible political role until assassination of his wife and chairperson of the PPP Benazir Bhutto nine months ago. But, after her death, he led her party and managed to form the PPP government after winning the elections in February this year.

The worst ever economic downfall and deteriorating security situation in the country due to increasing suicide attacks by Taliban led militants are some of the biggest challenges Zardari will have to face in the presidency.

Now with his own prime minister sitting in the government, he has no hurdles in formulating his own policies to salvage the country from the current political, economic and security problems.

But, Zardari will have to do some miracles to gain the confidence of the common people of Pakistan and to improve his own tarnished image of Mr 10 Per Cent. First, he has to fulfil his promises to ensure independent judicial system in the country and trim his powers as a president.

"If I am elected president, one of my highest priorities will be to support the prime minister, the National Assembly and the Senate to amend the Constitution to bring back into balance the powers of the presidency and thereby reduce its ability to bring down democratic governance," Zardari wrote in his article in Washington Post.

Zardari has demonstrated some extraordinary political skills in managing enormous support to become the president.

Known for his skills as great negotiator, he tactfully talked down seasoned politician Nawaz Sharif. He managed to convince Sharif to reverse his game plan of first reinstating the deposed judges and then impeaching President Musharraf. Sharif quit the coalition on allegations that Zardari broke his promise of restoring judges within 24 hours of Musharraf's resignation.