'Fighting fit' Zardari unlikely to succumb to opposition's pressure

New York, Dec. 19 (ANI): The Pakistan Supreme Court's monumental judgment that cleared the way for reopening of corruption cases against thousands of the country's politicians, including President Asif Ali Zardari, has increased the opposition's hunger for the President's head, but an 'unfazed' Zardari is unlikely to succumb to their pressure.

Zardari's media advisor, Farahnaz Ispahani, soon after the apex court's judgement declaring the NRO as 'unconstitutional', made it clear that the President has no intention of asking cabinet ministers or colleagues facing corruption charges to quit.

"The president is fighting fit. The president is clear that our Pakistan Peoples Party ministers would not be asked to resign merely on the basis of accusation," The New York Times quoted Ispahani, as saying.

Even as the demand for Zardari's resignation grows, people in Pakistan are unsure about whether he would ever be tried, going by past precedents in the country.

"We've never seen the mighty in this country held accountable," said Babar Sattar, a Harvard-trained constitutional lawyer.

"Now that the court, backed by public opinion, has come down hard on corruption in a way not seen before in Pakistan, the affected politicians are not sure how to react," Sattar added.

Probably it was this confusion which led to the dismissal of Interior Secretary Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, and three officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for barring Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar from travelling to China, the report said.

Concerns regarding a coup were also being expressed, however, there are no signs from the military, at least for the time being, that it is aiming to topple the civilian set-up. (ANI)