Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who is apparently on rest as per the advice of his doctors, has reportedly directed the top leadership of his Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) not no issue any statement or unnecessarily discuss the important and sensitive issue of the appointment of new army chief in the media.
Credible sources within the PPP said that Zardari, who is also better known as king of reconciliation, has opted to remain a “silent spectator” and has preferred staying in Karachi on health grounds. He was shifted from a private hospital after some days of treatment by his personal doctors under the supervision of his close and trusted friend Dr Asim Hussain. In recent days, the PPP co-chairman held meetings with PMD President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and a few others, but what he discussed with them during the meetings remained “an unreported mystery”, since no official statement was issued from the PPP’s media cells after the meetings.
The same party sources added that Zardari did not want to drag his feet into the fray despite being contacted by key stakeholders of the coalition government in Islamabad, knowing that even a single move by him to jump into the muddied waters could impair his long desired goals to stay closer to the establishment.
“Asif Zardari these days, instead of directly playing his cards, has decided to watch the crucial game on the important appointment of the new army chief by staying calm and composed in Karachi,” said a senior journalist, who wished not to be named. The journalist claimed that Zardari, being a mature and experienced politician, always stays away from volatile matters keeping in the past bitter overreactions by the forces. “Zardari is so cautious that he has asked his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not to speak so much about this appointment, which could change the future political scenario either way,” said the same party sources.
