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This is an archive article published on December 10, 2011
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Opinion The president’s heart

A register of reports and views from the Pakistan press

indianexpress

Ruchika Talwar

December 10, 2011 12:17 AM IST First published on: Dec 10, 2011 at 12:17 AM IST

The president’s heart

Pakistan President Asif Zardari’s sudden dash to Dubai following news of heart trouble sparked rumours of military-political upheaval. The Express Tribune on December 7 carried a report titled: “Rumours run riot: Zardari’s heart condition sets pulses racing,” which quoted from The Cable: “A former US government official said when US President Obama spoke with Zardari regarding NATO’s killing of the 24 Pakistani soldiers,Zardari was ‘incoherent’.” The report claimed Zardari was “feeling increased pressure over the Memogate scandal”,and quoted the official as having said: “The noose was getting tighter — it was only a matter of time,” expressing the growing expectation inside the US government that Zardari may be stepping down. The report also mentioned another rumour doing the rounds,that Zardari was asked to choose between quitting “his brand of politics” or facing a trial under Article 6 of the constitution for high treason.

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However,Zardari’s spokesman,Farhatullah Babar,quashed rumours of any political disturbance in Islamabad and attributed his trip to an emergency angioplasty. Meanwhile,a meeting between Zardari’s son and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PM Yousaf Gilani at the president’s house was widely reported,which suggested nothing untoward was in the offing. Dawn also reported on December 7 that Bilawal and Gilani presided over a meeting of the senior party leadership in Islamabad at the PM House. Babar said the “meeting discussed issues relating to the NATO strikes,the forthcoming Senate elections and the steps for the implementation of the pledge made by the party to meet the longstanding demand of the people for a Seraiki province.”

NATO attack and after

After last week’s NATO,the country’s military engagement with the US has been under review. Briefing the Senate Committee for Defence,Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Major-General Ashfaq Nadeem said the attack was “part of a ‘plot’ and a pre-planned move as NATO helicopters continued firing till complete destruction of both posts… The DGMO said when NATO copters attacked Pakistani checkposts,the US Embassy and Afghanistan were contacted,however,no positive response was received… It was a well-planned action as the NATO forces simultaneously attacked the army posts and hideouts of terrorists,” reported Daily Times on December 9. Another report stated some army officers had been recalled from this border: “The Pakistan army has said border coordination officers,posted along the Afghan border … have been recalled for consultations.”

Earlier this week,the US began vacating the sensitive Shamsi Air Base in Balochistan. The PPP government had ordered the dismissal of NATO supply trucks on Pakistani territory and also asked the US to remove its troops from Shamsi. Its political rivals appeared to be on the same page on this matter,The Express Tribune reported on December 9: “PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said until there is an apology for NATO’s attack… supply lines should remain suspended… Sharif said the government’s decision to suspend NATO supplies and ask the US to vacate the Shamsi Air Base is a good step.”

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