Zardari stubborn: Establishment considers 'Minus One' or 'General Kakar' formula

[Naveed Yaseen]

http://jang.com.pk/jang/mar2009-daily/15.../main3.htm
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English translation of same news
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari today stands completely isolated, as both the military-led establishment and the Gilani-led government are not convinced with the one-man recipe of the presidency to handle the present political crisis.

A source, while quoting an influential diplomatic source in Islamabad, who had earlier indicated about the resolution of the present political impasse before the long march reached Islamabad, now talks of the minus-one formula, insisting that things cannot be allowed to proceed as they are presently.

The source said that the requests by the prime minister, the Army chief and even by influential world capitals to cool down the present tempers remained unheard. The source said that such an indifferent response from the country’s president was surprising. He added that shying away from taking a political initiative to clear up the self-created mess was simply not understandable.

Although, the presidency is determined to fight the present crisis in its own fashion, things are worsening with every passing moment and may lead to a situation where the military may force the present political leadership to get to a political solution as was done in the mid 90s by General Abdul Waheed Kakar. “I am expecting that anything could happen at anytime,” a source said.

A key government minister, who is seen publicly defending President Zardari during these difficult days when most of the cabinet ministers are reluctant, said that Kayani had told the president that he needed to get the present political impasse resolved. The minister, on condition anonymity, said that the Army chief was upset with the present situation. He agreed that the situation may not come under the government’s control if corrective measures were not immediately taken. He, however, indicated that the president may still announce lifting of governor’s rule in the Punjab by 16th March and offer the PML-N to make the government in the province. The minister also said that at the eleventh hour, the government may also allow the lawyers and other participants of the long march to stage a sit-in in Islamabad, while ensuring that the participation remains thin. The minister conceded that despite tall claims of the governor Punjab, the PML-N continues to enjoy clear majority in the provincial assembly and the PPP had failed to muster the required support to make its own government.

A presidential aide, while talking to this correspondent on Friday, also indicated that governor’s rule in the Punjab could possibly be lifted by March 16, but said in a lighter vein that the Sharifs and the N-Leaguers, who are desirous of going on the long march, should at least see the government’s muscles before the crisis was resolved by the presidency.

“We faced jails, we were beaten up and maltreated in the past, now let them have a bit of it,” he said.

A recently retired Lt-General, who has served with the Army chief for long, said Kayani would be the last person to go for the option of military intervention. He, however, insisted that the Kakar formula might be the last option to overcome the present political crisis in the country.

However, a source, who closely knows President Zardari, insisted that Zardari was not the kind of person who would surrender to pressures.

While the president continues to show a brave face and insists that he is capable of countering the present challenges, Prime Minister Gilani is really upset and so are the majority of his cabinet members. They are not convinced with what President Zardari did on February 25. The departure of respected and saner voices, Raza Rabbani and Sherry Rehman being the latest, have also saddened Gilani and his cabinet colleagues as they also see the popularity graph of the government and the PPP falling severely.

While tension in the public further grew after the prime minister and Army chief’s meetings with the president on Friday remained inconclusive, a diplomat representing an influential European capital said that the options were getting limited for the president. The source said that it was a matter of days that things might change - the Nov 2, 2007 judiciary getting restored, the office of the prime minister becoming stronger and a national government formed.

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