Zardari, A Political Wizard and A Maestro??
Let us revisit the last five years of Zardari regime, try to find out the damage inflicted by his government to Pakistan economy, should Zardari really be credited for completing his tenure or other players also need some mention.
President Zardari has been given the credit of Parliament completing it's tenure by so many people, declaring him "Political Maestro and Wizard", despite not having clear cut majority in National Assembly, completed their term by making coalition and keeping their coalition partner's happy, while many in past despite having 2/3 Majority were not able to do that. It is really baffling, either they are naive or speaking their Master's voice or completely unaware of the destruction Zardari regime has caused to Pakistan in last five years. Worst thing that happened to Pakistan in recent history was Benazir assassination, followed by Zardari producing that will?? and taking over PPP, side lining hard core PPP jiyala's, who worked with BB in nineties, had the experience to run the Government and went through thick and thin during Mush Era, unfortunately Zardari introduced league of his own, notoriously known as his Jail time companions, who so ever had given him a slightest favour , while he was in Jail became Billionaire. Finally, became President, by playing a master stroke, deceiving and lying on Oath.
The biggest crime committed by Zardari regime was that they weren't able to catch the murderers of "Moutarama Benazair Bhatto", rather joined hands with the forces which BB had mentioned in her FIR. Pervaiz Mushraf was given Guard Of Honour and Pervaiz Ellahi elevated to the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Zardari Sahib on numerous public appearances admitted that he knows who were the BB killers but unfortunately, was not able to arrest them or even name them.
When "Yousaf Raza Gillani" took over as Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2007-08, total debt and liabilities of Pakistan were hovering around 6.4 trillion rupees, now in 2012-13 total debt and liabilities of Pakistan have crossed to a staggering figure of 15 trillion rupees and every Pakistani owes a debt of over 70 thousand rupees, irony of the matter is that even new born suffer the same fate. Things do not stop here, Dollar is touching new highs, breaching 100 rupees barrier and is all set to touch new highs as IMF payments are looming around, back in 2007-08 it was 62-63 rupees a Dollar. FDI plunged to new lows, falling to meagar 850 million dollar from 8.5 billion dollar in 2008 -2013, stock investors lost 24% of their capital in Dollar term during PPP tenure, economic experts are of the view, PPP government failed to create a single job during last five years in Private sector. Foreign reserve are all set to a nose dive, unless another bail out package from IMF is given. So in all fairness, PPP did a good job by printing currency to the tune of 1.5 billion to 3 billion rupees daily, taking loans from Private Bank to run their day to day affairs and pay mark up on their loans, eating away the money for Business Community to run their business and establishing new ones and they were left with nothing. During these achievements, Pakistan economy has been brought to near halt, growth touched new lows of 2 to 3%, which in real terms is negative , if we insert population growth in it but of course Zardari is a "political wizard and maestro".
Pakistan ranked 33rd most corrupt country in 2012, TIP corruption index, declaring that 7-8 billion were looted and plundered on daily basis , which accumulates to over 85,00 billion rupees in last four years. Nab Chairman went a step further by declaring that close to 13 trillion were looted in last four years, remember Nab Chairman is a hand picked man of Zardari, but of course Zardari is a "Political wizard and maestro".
Pakistan Public sector organisation's under Zardari Regime have gone from bad to worse, even bank-rupted if not bailed out by packages they receive quarterly. In Government organisation's new history of mass loot and plunder has been written.
Power Sector, the back bone of economy, is in tatters, running in massive deficit of 792 billion rupees, the whole Nation has been pushed into dark ages, with power outages exceeding 12 hours a day have become a routine, making life miserable. Business Community packing their bags and shifting their businesses to other countries and public at large suffering from psychiatric break down. Matters do not end here, electricity theft causing a loss of 90 billion to National Exchequer and most of this has been reported in provisional Governments where Zardari regime and it's coalition partners are in power. Yes Zardari regime inherited that circular debt and power shortages from Mushraf Regime, but Zardari lacked the political will and intention to get rid of this menace rather took it as an opportunity for more rum-running, floated the idea of Rental Power, which was later challenged in Supreme Court by Khawja Asif and Faisal Saleh, saving Pakistan 5 billion Dollars. Similarly "Chicho Ki Malyan" and "Nandi Pur" power projects were delayed intentionally for kick backs in Law Ministry, which was later established by Rehmat Hussain Jafry commission, causing a loss of 113 billion rupees to National Exchequer. OGRA was another big scam in energy sector, causing a loss of 82 billion rupees. Similarly Import of 3.5 million tons of LNG was awarded to a French company, ignoring the lowest bidder Fauji Foundation and VITOL, causing a loss of 1 Billion Dollar to National Exchequer as confirmed by then Finance Minister Shoukat Aziz. All this plunder caused the GDP irreparable damage, almost to a tune of 1-1.5% annually.
Similarly other organisations like PIA suffered a loss of Rs. 119 billion, SC is already hearing a case on its incompetence. Steel Mill which was running in profits, is in ruins , SC is hearing a case of 26.5 billion rupees plunder, how long we are going to drag SC in every matter. NICL scam, Hajj Corruption, Ephedrine , Punjab Bank , Urea , Federal Board Housing , PCB 7 billion embezzlement, New Murrre Project etc scam, scam and scams, ears drum shattering, it's a never ending list. Rs.400 billion cases are still in SC and roughly 170 billion pending in NAB, but off course, Zardari is a "political wizard and maestro".
It was not mere bad governance but rather a very committed intention of looting the country, making rampage and havoc, placing his jail maids and cronies to important posts, violating the merit, long list of such examples, Adnan Khwaja, Tauqir Sadiq, Ayaz Niazi etc. Placing their hand picked puppets on important posts making them head of institutions who were supposed to check this loot and plunder, who were suppose to hold other accountable. These institutions infect became a tool to protect the masters and let the culprits run from the country or carried out investigations that would make the whole case very weak, but of course Zardari is a "political wizard and maestro".
let us glance over an argument given in favour of PPP led government that they were able to make important constitutional reforms and successfully completed their tenure of five years, with shrewd politics of Zardari Sahib that he was able to make coalitions and was able to satisfy every coalition partner by hook or crook. Yes, partly credit goes to PPP but three main stake holders who massively took part in the stability of this system were Army, Independent Judiciary and Mian Nawaz Sharif PMLN. "Wisdom comes from experience, which is the bitterest".
Army under General Kiyani has matured a lot, he as a Head of an institution acted and performed way better than his predecessors, we all remember Mush era, Army was literally locked in their barracks, the worst nightmare of a soldier that his country-men don't trust them any more. Kiyani brought that see saw change back to normal once he took over, there were some glitches during his tenure as well, like Memo Gate etc but on the whole things went well. May be Zardari Sahib had given them the freedom in foreign policy and deep state doctrine and they didn't want to interfere in Zardari Sahib domain.
CJ Iftikhar Choudhry once restored after historic Long March, became a torch bearer against corruption, took count less suo motos when needed, saved hundreds of Billion rupees but at the same time remained committed to the Democracy, sent packing a sitting Prime Minister but never gave a chance to hidden forces to come up with any agenda. Categorically announced in many Public appearance, his commitment to Democracy and warned he will be standing like a wall if some body tried to derail Democracy. Showed immense restrain, some time took very hard decisions but never deviating from his commitment to Constitution of Pakistan.
Finally, main opposition Party PMLN and his Leader who were often taunted by many and labelled as friendly opposition, do not have any knowledge of Western Democracies, where once you vote some one to Power then you have moral obligation to wait for his tenure to end. Nawaz Sharif not only risked his popularity by standing with Democracy, but also shunned countless opportunities to come in power. NS seems to have learned a lot from nineties where he and BB remained engaged in ugly politics and destabilising each others Government. That is why, despite leading that historic movement for Judges restoration, he ended his Long March in Gujranwala once demands were met. Gave a Comprehensive 10 point agenda to PPP led coalition government to lead Pakistan out of this mess. His brother Shabaz Sharif led Punjab Government out paced other provinces with his performance and set an example for the rest to follow. Nawaz Sharif commitment to Democracy proved many critics wrong, and he has been rewarded with highest Poll ratings in recent Gallup-Pildat survey after a brief dip in his popularity due to his support to Democratic Pakistan. It is a World wide phenomenon that slogans which make the masses happy for a short time give you instant popularity but those are not sustainable. Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
Zardari Sahib, who won the hearts of Pakistani people when he raised that slogan of his "Pakistan Khapey", but unfortunately, his style of Governance disappointed the whole Nation, where an Army of cronies headed by "Business Tycoon", who to many is a de-facto Prime Minister. Yes Zardari Sahib brought historic amendments in Constitution but also flouted the sacred document, like it had never been before, and interpreted it to his heart content. People of Pakistan were burdened with two digit inflation, unending Load shedding, long ques on gas stations, factories getting 4 to 5 day gas holidays in a week, no job creation, count-less closures of factories, poor health and education facilities. Situation is worse in PPP controlled provinces, Karachi handed over to Land mafia, Bhatta Mafia and target killers ( more than 5,000 people were murdered in target killing ), Baluchistan left at the mercy of Allah, countless achievements for Zardari Sahib and his Governments but for apologists , yet Zardari Sahb is a political wizard and maestro.
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