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Zadari tipped for Pakistan presidency
Philippines News.Net
Tuesday 2nd September, 2008
The widower of Pakistan's slain former premier Benazir Bhutto is expected to assume the presidency of a country riven by Islamic militancy and economic turmoil.
Asif Ali Zardari was once so tainted by corruption allegations that he spent 11 years behind bars on charges he insists were politically motivated.
He will face a multitude of other problems if he defeats his two opponents and takes charge of a nuclear-armed state that has seen bombings and suicide attacks kill nearly 1,200 people in the past year.
Security will be raised on election day and Mr Zardari has already moved house due to fears of attacks being made on his life, just nine months after Ms Bhutto was killed at a campaign rally.
Pakistan's economy is backsliding with inflation rampant and a volatile political situation contributing to a 40 per cent fall on the stockmarket since January, in a country already reliant on foreign aid.
The unrest that has struck the nation has been attributed to militants angry at US ally Pervez Musharraf's support for the "war on terror" in Afghanistan.
Mr Musharraf's resignation has triggered the coming election but his military policy is likely to continue.
Islamabad is heavily dependent on the billions of dollars that the United States has committed to Pakistan since the September 11th attacks in 2001.
The fundamental concerns of ordinary Pakistanis though, are rooted in the cost of living, with high oil prices and rising food bills causing mounting anger among the nation's 160 million population.
Mr Zardari is being challenged by retired chief justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, who is backed by former premier Nawaz Sharif, and Mushahid Hussain, a close aide of Mr Musharraf.
Mr Zardari is expected to win Saturday's election as he has sufficient support in the federal legislature and four provincial assemblies that pick the president in a secret ballot.  Email this story to a friend
Comments on this story
Anonymous
09-02-08, 04:35 PM |
Zadari tipped for Pakistan presidency
In Pakistan, it is crystal clear, Pakistani Military rules through ISI and MI.
As military Gods loose the future funds fromUnited States, they have brought
a new figures in the name of Democracy to get funds and other facilities
from west. This is a way to betray the west and make them fool.
The policies of Military and their ISI, it seems, shall continue i.e. to help the
Talibans/al-quida secretaly, as usual, and bleed NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Kill and arrest their own citizens in Balochistan and elsewhere and may
be orchaster a new attack in western world and chain of attack in India.
Mr. Zardari shall be a powerless and Paper President of Pakistan.
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