Asif Ali Zardari should blame himself for the present crisis. From the day he took the decision to become country’s president while holding the post of PPP co-chairman, it was clear that he would be a target for the ‘establishment’ because of his controversial past. However, he is neither a nominated president nor a dictator, but he entered the presidency after an election accepted by all the parties. Thus any attempt to dislodge him unconstitutionally would be disastrous and unacceptable.
As a media-person we have to be responsible while reporting and analysing an event. I must say that the language used in some news analyses and articles by professional journalists was quite unprofessional. The media cannot become part of the conspiracy hatched by the establishment to derail the democratic process. How could a journalist justify the public statement issued at the end of a Corps Commanders Conference against the Kerry-Lugar bill? They could express their reservations through the proper channel. The act was tantamount to indulging in politics. Similarly, who are we (media-persons) to advise President Zardari to give the army chief a three-year extension? Are we siding with the establishment or democracy? But Mr Zardari needs some serious soul-searching too. He must know how some of his decisions upon his cronies’ advices have damaged the party — whether it was the judges’ restoration, the imposition of governor’s rule in Punjab, souring of relations with the PML-N and the dillydallying on the 17th Amendment. Instead of keeping Benazir Bhutto’s picture on the rostrum during his speeches, it’s more important to resolve her murder case, get the suspects arrested and punish the officials responsible for criminal negligence. Mr Zardari should avoid becoming the victim of his own follies. Apparently the PML-N is in no mood to oust him. Let democracy grow and the democratic process flourish.
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