Author: Dr. Farooq Hassan

September 20, 2008 like March 9, 2007, is amongst the defining moments in Pakistan’s contemporary history. It would also ranks amongst its bleakest. Future destiny of this nation could well be determined by facts as they happened on this day. The attack outside the five-star Marriott Hotel – not far from key government buildings – happened early in the evening shortly after iftar and only few hours after Zardari as president addressed a joint session of the two houses of Parliament where he said rhetorically that Pakistan would not allow the use of its territory for terrorist activities.

It was supposed to be a triumphant week for President Zardari who made his debut in national politics by making his presidential address to Parliament, a feat Musharraf could not perform for years. On the day of the blast, he was to fly to New York to make his debut on the world stage by addressing the UNGA. Startlingly, within days of his election, he has been to Dubai, London and New York on non-official work while a patent demolition process is underway within the country. He has not helped his already affected image by his over friendly greetings to Sara Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate.

A startling phenomenon is evident when it is realised that he finds himself struggling to maintain his political footing in the face of contending pressures that threaten to knock him off balance. Certainly a political upstart, having done himself no service by surrounding himself with a bunch of other rank upstarts to face the nation’s multifaceted problems. His credibility is still suspect, given his reneging on three written agreements with PML-N to restore the deposed judiciary.

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