ZARDARI ERA (2008 – 2013)

Published by: Azeem A. Abbasi

Dated: 01 Aug 2021 

ZARDARI ERA (2008 – 2013)

Asif Ali Zardari is the name known to almost every individual in Pakistan who has even zero interest in politics, the most controversial political figure, who managed to survive full five-year presidential term facing a lot of setbacks. Asif Ali Zardari was the 11th president of Pakistan whose tenure lasted from 2008 to 2013. He is also a widower of Pakistan’s first democratically elected female Prime minister Late Benazir Bhutto. After the assassination of his wife on 27 December 2007, he became of the leader of Pakistan People Party and currently co-chairman along with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Zardari belongs to a Baloch tribe who is residing and settled in Sindh. Asif Ali Zardari took presidential oath on 8th September 2008. Asif Zardari was Pakistan’s first civilian but powerful President. Many of them served as only ceremonial presidents with no power to influence Prime Minister’s policies. He inherited with all Musharraf’s powers until the 18th amendment. He was still a powerful President after the 18th amendment because he was the leader of his party. Many people tend to believe that the circumstance that led him to become the president of Pakistan was mainly getting the sympathy votes. Along with PPP, PML-N won the second largest number of seats. Therefore, both PPP and PML-N decided to form a coalition government. He influenced many federal ministers as well.

Political Background:       

Asif Zardari is one of Pakistan’s most controversial politicians, having overcome a series of personal and political setbacks to become a president. From 2008, he presided as Pakistan’s eleventh president. The first president born after partition of Bengal. During Benazir’s first term, Zardari was not a part of politics but Zardari had been involved in corruption cases from the very beginning and In 1990, the organization restricted Zardari and his wife for staying in the country but after some years Zardari became the Cabinet Minister in the Caretaker Government as well as he was elected as chairman of the Environment British Council in march 1995, under Benazir Bhutto’s second administration. Asif Zardari was completely responsible for Murtuza Bhutto’s death according to Murtuza’s family. After the dismissal of Benazir’s Government he was arrested at Lahore in 1996. While under arrest, he was selected as a Senator in 1997 and he remained under arrest for his entire tenure. His political enemies have questioned his legality, with some mediocre to kill old corruption cases against him, even though he enjoyed presidential amnesty. In order to satisfy his opponents, Zardari gave the President’s power to the Prime Minister. Nevertheless, as PPP’s leader and target of numerous legal issues, he still has a large political influence.

 

Assassination of Benazir Bhutto:

    On December 27,2007, Bilal, a 15-year-old suicide bomber killed Benazir Bhutto. When he came up to her vehicle, shot at her and then destroyed himself. She had just ended an election rally in Rawalpindi. Sources tells us that this attack was carried out by the Pakistani Taliban. As she was campaigning for third term as a Prime Minister at the time of her passing, this assassination caused a major disturbance in Pakistan. Bhutto’s followers gathered in the streets, blocked traffics, setting fire to objects and shouted anti-Pakistani chants. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Asif Zardari returned to attend her wife’s funeral and denied to do the postmortem of his wife and called International services for the inquiry of his wife assassination. Benazir wanted his husband to succeed her as a party leader. Zardari made his son Bilawal a Chairman of party. People in Pakistan commonly accuse Benazir’s widower, Asif Zardari because masterminding the assassination of his wife.

 

Coalition Government:

The coalition administration was a game changer between 2008 and 2013. In the 2008 elections, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was declared the winner, with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) coming in second. This was largely owing to Zardari's efforts to persuade Nawaz Shareef to vote as too. Asif Zardari and Nawaz Shareef, the leaders of the two parties, have agreed to create a coalition government. Zardari assured Nawaz that once the Coalition Government was in place, his party would reinstall the sixty judges removed by former Prime Minister Pervaiz Musharraf. Zardari eventually altered his mind, and the government fell apart. As a show of disapproval, the PML-N withdrew its support for the administration, forcing every member of the cabinet to resign. Between 2008 and 2013, the opposition had multiple chances to upset the administration, but they failed to do so.

Problems faced by the Government:                                                                     

Terrorism was on peak when PPP’s Government came into power, Target killing and snatching were so common in 2008. Energy crisis was the main issue as Pakistan’s energy sector had grown to be a significant drain on the economy and was preventing growth, both as a result of power shortages. One of Pakistan’s most immediate problem is poverty, Poverty and a poor economic growth had begun to increase in Pakistan after a downward trend in 1980s.  Pakistan implemented its trade liberalisation agenda while contending with a sharp surge in inflation.

 

Services and Performance of PPP:

    In May 2009, with the agreement of all political parties and law-enforcement agencies, an action was launched to bring peace in the country against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan which was successful. The Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package was a political, economic and administrative initiative organized by a coalition led by the PPP. It was only approved for the people of Balochistan and it was also included in the Murree declaration. Six hundred students were awarded scholarships for higher education by the Higher Education Comission. This Zardari era helped Youth of Balochistan a lot. Young people of Balochistan had been assigned to the Housing Ministry, Commerce Ministry, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Technology and Industry and many other sectors, Baloch employes were given many authorities on resources because they always asked for it. Balochistan was considered to be a backward Province but It has a potential to be very rich. Zardari Government launched the BENAZIR INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAM (BISP) in July 2008. The program’s aims and objectives are as follows:

1.    Increase the capabilities of people living in poverty.

2.    Develop and implement policies to help the poor.

3.    Reduce poverty by distributing funds to low-income populations equally.

There were so many other services by this Government which helped a lot to the Pakistani Nation.

 

 

Criticism and Weaknesses:                      

Zardari was adamant about retaining the full authority of parliament. He ceased functioning as the Federation's impartial ambassador and began holding party rallies at the White House. According to Pakistani law, he was required to attend any and all meetings involving the other head of government. Bombings, kidnappings, and gunshots were all too prevalent. Law and order deteriorated as street violence increased in big cities like as Karachi. The most contentious topics between the court and the presidency were the NRO case and whether or not to reopen the Swiss proceedings against Zardari.