'Unpredictable' Zardari's inconsistent politics could turn out "very bad" for Pak

Islamabad, Aug 27 : Ahead of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's possible ascendancy to the post of President of Pakistan, fears are being expressed about his style of functioning as the country's head of state. Political commentators have said that the kind of politics he was adopting could turn out to be bad.

Talat Hussain, a Pakistan-based political commentator and leading journalist, said that Zardari is very unpredictable in nature and it was displayed on Monday night when he publicly aplogised to PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif and urged upon him to return to the ruling coalition's fold.

According to an article in the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), concerns about Zardari's likely presidency extend beyond corruption charges against him, which, though, now have been withdrawn.

"Zardari is a very unpredictable guy. What kind of politics is he playing? That kind of inconsistency will be very bad for Pakistan," the paper quoted Hussain as saying.

Zardari, who is likely to win the September 6 presidency poll, is believed to oppose the return of the judges because of his fears that they will repeal an amnesty on corruption charges granted him last year. The former businessman has served more than eight years in prison on corruption and other criminal charges, but without being convicted.

However, the US is believed to be more comfortable with the prospect of working with Zardari than with Sharif, who is remembered as a difficult prime minister during the 1990s. A conservative Muslim with even more conservative followers, Sharif has said that he is intent on quashing militancy but would like to lower the profile of US involvement in the war on terror, added the CSM article.

It added that compared to Nawaz, Zardari has adopted a "hawkish tone" in recent days, arguing that the Pakistani Taliban should be banned.

Analysts say that regardless of his political battle with Sharif, Zardari will have to demonstrate convincingly that he is taking control of Pakistan's fight against terrorism if he is to enjoy any credence as President of Pakistan.

ANI