Late night calls from US, UK made Zardari a peacemaker

Islamabad, Mar 29 (ANI): Late night calls from the United States and UK helped President Asif Ali Zardari to bring sanity to the troubled political proceedings in Pakistan during his address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

Zardari portrayed himself as a hawk-turned-peacemaker on Saturday but the script is understood to have been handed over to him by the Americans and the British.

Even in the heat of the emotions at the end of his speech to parliament, a politically smart Zardari did not forget to keep certain useful cards in his own hands to deal with the Sharif brothers once the dust settles down, The News reported.

The president was clearly advised by his party elders last week at the Presidency to do away with the disqualification of the Sharif brothers through an act of parliament, instead of allowing the courts to decide political issues.

These elders genuinely believed that the PPP should take the credit of giving a new political life to the Sharif brothers not the courts.

Zardari did not buy this advice and successfully managed to keep Shahbaz Sharif away from the slot of Chief Minister of Punjab, who would now be required to sit at home and wait for the decision of the Supreme Court, which may go either way.

Other than the US and UK, Saudi Arabian leaders will be relaxed after Zardari agreed to revive the old arrangement of power-sharing at the Centre and the Punjab.

A genuinely worried Saudi King had even sent his intelligence chief, Sheikh Mukrin, asking the president not to disturb the existing political power-sharing system at least for one and a half years as the friends of Pakistan were seriously concerned about the deepening instability in the country.

But Zardari did not give any importance to the secret letter of the Saudi King, as he was said to be angry with the Kingdom for not giving financial help or come up with an economic bailout package despite visits by both Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Zardari himself, the paper said.

One insider claimed that unlike his past track record of backing out of his commitments, Zardari would definitely execute his fresh promises in letter and spirit as guarantees of this new deal between warring him and Sharif were given by these foreign powers who believe in a no nonsense diplomacy. (ANI)