Asif Zardari is a maverick politician who may find a way out of the current crisis. Can he do it in the current situation facing Pakistan?
In 2014, Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), held a sit-in on Islamabad roads - demanding the dissolution of Parliament. The sit-in was called after the PTI had lost the national polls and Nawaz Sharif was prime minister of Pakistan, while Asif Zardari was in the opposition.
Zardari, despite having reservations about Nawaz’s government, opposed the sit-in and called it a "threat to democracy." He said that the sit-in was being used by Imran Khan to "hijack democracy" and that it was "not in the best interests of the country."
Zardari's stance on the sit-in was not well taken at that time even among his own party leaders, as many of them believed that he should have supported the dissolution of parliament. However, Zardari stood by his decision, stood by Parliament and stood by democracy - and he eventually succeeded in frustrating Khan's plans.
In 2022, Zardari was instrumental in the creation of a coalition government. He brought all the parties together and even persuaded Nawaz Sharif, who was hesitant to table the vote of no confidence against Imran Khan's government.
Zardari's actions have also shown that he is a pragmatist. He is willing to work with those he disagrees with in order to achieve his goals. This was evident in his willingness to meet with the Sharifs and other opposition leaders in 2022.
Years-long media trials have made Zardari a complex and controversial figure. However, there is no doubt that he is a major player in Pakistani politics. His actions in 2014 and 2022 have shown that he is a strong advocate for democracy and a pragmatist who is willing to work with those he disagrees with in order to achieve his goals.
In the current situation, where the institutions of the state - especially Parliament - are being attacked, Zardari can once again play a key role in protecting democracy. He has the experience, the contacts and the political capital to do so. It remains to be seen if he will be willing to step up and play this role.
Zardari has contacts across political parties. In the past, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan was the only personality who had the ability to unite all parties; now, this role could be played by Zardari. He has the ability to bring together different political parties and ideologies on a common platform.
Zardari is known for his ability to negotiate and compromise with other political leaders. He has played a crucial role in keeping the current coalition government intact and ensuring its stability. One of the key contributions of Zardari to Pakistani politics is his role in empowering the parliament. As the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, Zardari turned Parliament into a centre of power in the country.
Despite his many contributions to Pakistani politics and society, Zardari has faced many challenges and controversies throughout his career. He was incarcerated for 11 years on allegations of corruption and other charges, but he was acquitted by the courts. His critics say that he entered into an understanding with the establishment and got his cases 'handled.'
Zardari has been a vocal advocate for peace and has worked to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different ethnic and religious groups in Pakistan. Perhaps Zardari should take the initiative of resuming dialogue with the PTI and hold an all-parties conference to create an environment of political negotiation, so that the current logjam is broken.
The key question here is whether Imran Khan or his aides will talk to Zardari and find a way forward that would ensure elections on time and quell the rumours of a martial law.
In 2014, Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), held a sit-in on Islamabad roads - demanding the dissolution of Parliament. The sit-in was called after the PTI had lost the national polls and Nawaz Sharif was prime minister of Pakistan, while Asif Zardari was in the opposition.
Zardari, despite having reservations about Nawaz’s government, opposed the sit-in and called it a "threat to democracy." He said that the sit-in was being used by Imran Khan to "hijack democracy" and that it was "not in the best interests of the country."
Zardari's stance on the sit-in was not well taken at that time even among his own party leaders, as many of them believed that he should have supported the dissolution of parliament. However, Zardari stood by his decision, stood by Parliament and stood by democracy - and he eventually succeeded in frustrating Khan's plans.
In 2022, Zardari was instrumental in the creation of a coalition government. He brought all the parties together and even persuaded Nawaz Sharif, who was hesitant to table the vote of no confidence against Imran Khan's government.
Zardari's actions have also shown that he is a pragmatist. He is willing to work with those he disagrees with in order to achieve his goals. This was evident in his willingness to meet with the Sharifs and other opposition leaders in 2022.
Years-long media trials have made Zardari a complex and controversial figure. However, there is no doubt that he is a major player in Pakistani politics. His actions in 2014 and 2022 have shown that he is a strong advocate for democracy and a pragmatist who is willing to work with those he disagrees with in order to achieve his goals.
In the current situation, where the institutions of the state - especially Parliament - are being attacked, Zardari can once again play a key role in protecting democracy. He has the experience, the contacts and the political capital to do so. It remains to be seen if he will be willing to step up and play this role.
The key question here is if Imran Khan or his aides will talk to Zardari and find a way forward that would ensure elections on time and quell the rumors of a martial law.
Zardari has contacts across political parties. In the past, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan was the only personality who had the ability to unite all parties; now, this role could be played by Zardari. He has the ability to bring together different political parties and ideologies on a common platform.
Zardari is known for his ability to negotiate and compromise with other political leaders. He has played a crucial role in keeping the current coalition government intact and ensuring its stability. One of the key contributions of Zardari to Pakistani politics is his role in empowering the parliament. As the President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, Zardari turned Parliament into a centre of power in the country.
Despite his many contributions to Pakistani politics and society, Zardari has faced many challenges and controversies throughout his career. He was incarcerated for 11 years on allegations of corruption and other charges, but he was acquitted by the courts. His critics say that he entered into an understanding with the establishment and got his cases 'handled.'
Zardari has been a vocal advocate for peace and has worked to promote dialogue and reconciliation between different ethnic and religious groups in Pakistan. Perhaps Zardari should take the initiative of resuming dialogue with the PTI and hold an all-parties conference to create an environment of political negotiation, so that the current logjam is broken.
The key question here is whether Imran Khan or his aides will talk to Zardari and find a way forward that would ensure elections on time and quell the rumours of a martial law.