Asif Zardari was convicted by a court in Geneva for receiving bribes from SGS of Switzerland. That conviction has not been quashed. The copy of the conviction order was on the web site of NAB (National Accountability Bureau) until the present PPP led government was formed. A copy of the conviction of his Swiss accomplice is attached.
Out of sympathy for the deceased Benazir Bhutto, the people voted for the party she led in elections of 18th February and it emerged as the largest party, but well short of majority in the National Assembly. But she had campaigned for the 'restoration' of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhri whereas Asif Zardari has gone back on written promises to do that three times. That is betrayal which calls for punishment not a reward.
It is one thing to ignore that he had been deceiving and stealing with impunity as the husband of the much loved Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, but quite another to make him the President of Pakistan. Have we sunk that low as a people to put up with such mockery. Do we not understand that the 'Taliban' who now control much of Afghanistan, FATA and NWFP have gained credibility and popularity because we put up with the likes of Musharraf and Asif Zardari as our leaders?
The technique of Asif Zardari is now familiar. He always wants to do something else first in order to shelve what must be done immediately to resolve the judicial and economic crisis the country faces. He wanted to get his constitutional package passed first. Then he wanted to impeach Musharraf first. Now he wants to become the President first. I think time has come we got rid of Asif Zardari first. He is a convicted criminal - convicted by a Swiss court. That is where he belongs - on the list of criminals. As such, he cannot be an elector let alone be elected, to any office in Pakistan.