Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent in Islamabad | September 06, 2008
ASIF Ali Zardari, the "unsavoury character" set to become president later today of nuclear-armed Pakistan, declared yesterday that he was "doing it for Benazir (Bhutto)", his wife who was assassinated last December.
In an evocative final message as electors gathered in Islamabad, the controversial Mr Zardari, widely known as "Mr Ten Per Cent" for allegations of kickbacks during his wife's two terms in office, said he was still in mourning for her and that his election as president would be a "huge step" in the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy.
"I want to help complete this process," he declared. "I owe it to my party and my country, but above all to my wife, who lost her life striving to make Pakistan free, pluralist and democratic."
Recalling his nine years in prison on corruption charges "as a hostage to my wife's career and my party's future", Mr Zardari, poised to assume powers even greater than those held by former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf, added: "Those years made me a stronger person and hardened my resolve to fight for democracy. I wish I could do it at my wife's side. Now I must do it in my wife's place."
The multi-millionaire, 52, who in recent weeks has been subject to questions about his mental health, added: "My family has already paid the ultimate price for our commitment to democracy.
"I hope that my democratic election will seal the victory of democracy over dictatorship and, at long last, allow our country to defeat the terrorist threat and address the people's needs."
As he laid claim to the political legacy of Ms Bhutto as well as that of her hanged father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, however, new polls showed the majority of Pakistan's 170 million-strong population remained deeply suspicious of Mr Zardari. While the Bush administration will probably welcome his climb to the presidency, given his stated intention to align closely with Washington in the war on terrorism, there are widespread fears that his elevation could lead to further instability in the nuclear-armed country.
On paper, Pakistan's president is a ceremonial head of state, but the post, like the presidential palace Mr Zardari is likely to inherit, has undergone a vast expansion. He will have his finger on the nuclear button, and will possess the authority to fire and appoint the all-important army chief and to summarily dismiss the government.
A leading Pakistani commentator, Shafqar Mahmood, summed up the apprehension about Mr Zardari yesterday by saying, "He desperately needs an image makeover. Indeed, he has to become the exact opposite to what he is perceived to be.
"His current image is that of a very unsavoury individual, unreliable in the extreme and prone to crime whether in terms of financial improprieties or strong-arm tactics. He has to reverse each one of these perceptions."
Despite the misgivings, Mr Zardari is expected to win handsomely when votes are counted today, although MPs from jihadi militant-infested tribal areas yesterday withdrew their pledged support in protest at the Government's military offensive against al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters.
Story
ASIF Ali Zardari, the "unsavoury character" set to become president later today of nuclear-armed Pakistan, declared yesterday that he was "doing it for Benazir (Bhutto)", his wife who was assassinated last December.
In an evocative final message as electors gathered in Islamabad, the controversial Mr Zardari, widely known as "Mr Ten Per Cent" for allegations of kickbacks during his wife's two terms in office, said he was still in mourning for her and that his election as president would be a "huge step" in the country's transition from dictatorship to democracy.
"I want to help complete this process," he declared. "I owe it to my party and my country, but above all to my wife, who lost her life striving to make Pakistan free, pluralist and democratic."
Recalling his nine years in prison on corruption charges "as a hostage to my wife's career and my party's future", Mr Zardari, poised to assume powers even greater than those held by former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf, added: "Those years made me a stronger person and hardened my resolve to fight for democracy. I wish I could do it at my wife's side. Now I must do it in my wife's place."
The multi-millionaire, 52, who in recent weeks has been subject to questions about his mental health, added: "My family has already paid the ultimate price for our commitment to democracy.
"I hope that my democratic election will seal the victory of democracy over dictatorship and, at long last, allow our country to defeat the terrorist threat and address the people's needs."
As he laid claim to the political legacy of Ms Bhutto as well as that of her hanged father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, however, new polls showed the majority of Pakistan's 170 million-strong population remained deeply suspicious of Mr Zardari. While the Bush administration will probably welcome his climb to the presidency, given his stated intention to align closely with Washington in the war on terrorism, there are widespread fears that his elevation could lead to further instability in the nuclear-armed country.
On paper, Pakistan's president is a ceremonial head of state, but the post, like the presidential palace Mr Zardari is likely to inherit, has undergone a vast expansion. He will have his finger on the nuclear button, and will possess the authority to fire and appoint the all-important army chief and to summarily dismiss the government.
A leading Pakistani commentator, Shafqar Mahmood, summed up the apprehension about Mr Zardari yesterday by saying, "He desperately needs an image makeover. Indeed, he has to become the exact opposite to what he is perceived to be.
"His current image is that of a very unsavoury individual, unreliable in the extreme and prone to crime whether in terms of financial improprieties or strong-arm tactics. He has to reverse each one of these perceptions."
Despite the misgivings, Mr Zardari is expected to win handsomely when votes are counted today, although MPs from jihadi militant-infested tribal areas yesterday withdrew their pledged support in protest at the Government's military offensive against al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters.
Story
Source: The Australian
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