An American expert on South Asian affairs has said that Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari is on the way out of power, following his decision to hand over key responsibilities to prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“Zardari is in a slow road to the exit. He can't easily survive politically; but it will likely be a constitutional process that pushes him out,” Politico quoted the expert, as saying.
“The official removal of his command over the nukes may be a sign he is on the way out, but I don't ever believe the Pakistan military followed his command,” the expert added.
He further said that Zardari's move to hand over the control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons to Gilani was a concessionary step.
“Now, that the NRO is going to expire and he's not immune from prosecution, he is trying to make deals. He could hang on in a diminished role or he could go fast,” the expert said.
Constitutionally, no harm can be done to Zardari, as he cannot be served with any warrant; but there are people who believe that the president should himself step down and face the charges in order to maintain the dignity of the office.
Uncertainty still surrounds Zardari's days in office, but one thing is sure that the ongoing anti-president campaign has weakened his clutch on power, and is certainly distracting attention from the more important issue of militancy.
