Mr Asif Ali Zardari has been in the news for the last three days in a big big way. He issued a statement that promptly made headlines in the media. Even though the statement was worded in such a manner that it seemed to convey that in Mr Zardari’s view, General Raheel Sharif should not have expressed his intention of not seeking extension in his tenure of office as Army Chief, the purpose of the statement clearly was to support the view that in lieu of the fact that the country was in the middle of a War, it was advisable that there be continuity of military leadership.
After the initial ‘waves’ conflicting views have come from various PPP leaders regarding the authenticity of the statement. Some PPP leaders have gone as far as to state emphatically that no statement was issued. The others have not denied the statement but have interpreted it differently.
Quite clearly the confusion created by the statement suits Mr Asif Ali Zardari. The fact that he has issued no clarification means that he wants all the doors to stay open.
In my view, what Mr Zardari has actually conveyed is his loss of interest in coming to the rescue of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s power, if any threat to it is translated into reality in the future.
Quite clearly Mr Zardari has come to realize now that the only beneficiary of the continuity of this system is going to be the Mian family.
