Two faces of same coin â€" President Zardari & Pervaiz Musharraf

By Nadia Khan

There are few strange commonalities' between President Asif Ali Zardari (b 26^th July) and ex-President Pervaiz Musharraf (b 11^th August) in terms of approach, thinking, actions, reactions, decisions, and selection of people. Here are few examples:

1. From horoscope view they both are Leo, those born between July 23^rd and August 22^nd. We know this not on their part, but accidently similar.

2. They both hold two highest positions in Pakistan. Musharraf was holding President of the country and Army Chief portfolios whereas Zardari is holding PPP party chief portfolio, most powerful party position whereas young Bilawal is named party chairman for name sake only (man behind the scene is Asif Ali Zardari) and the President of the country

3. The prime ministers such as Zafar ullah Jamali & Shaukat Aziz, during Musharraf's Presidential period were of no use and couldn't exercise the given authority of chief executive powers such as Lal Masjid brutal actions were orchestrated by Musharraf himself. Under President Zardari tenure, Yousuf Raza Gilani is still trying to exercise his premier powers such as the sacking of national security advisor, where President Zardari kept himself quite but he didn't liked that sacking from the bottom corner of his heart, whole nation witness President Zardari chairing important meetings, sitting next to PM, such as security, energy, law & order in Swat/FATA, where as prime minister is sitting (co-chairing the said meetings) next to him idle, looking at him & others helplessly even though he, only, has constitutional rights to run the day to day affairs of the govt.  He is only allowed to distribute degrees during convocations or participate in opening ceremonies!

4. They both are against of independent judiciary. CJ Justice Ifthikhar was removed by Musharraf for many reasons such as adjourning the case of missing Pakistanis either held by local agencies or handed them over to CIA for bounty, re checking the allotment of Chak Shahzad commercial land, Karachi Steel Mill incompetent privatisation and for political motives to get elected even under disqualification clause. President Zardari has showed his full strength against the independent judiciary. In spite of his signed accord with Muslim League, he has denied fulfilling his promise terming it as 'not a Hadith.' He has conferred highest Pakistani awards to US office bearers whereas didn't uttered a single good word about the highest award received by Justice Ifthikhar from US institutions. His leniency towards Justice Dogar might be due to same ethnic belongings, as CJ Dogar belongs to Khairpur, Sind a nearby town to Nawabshah, Sind from where President Zardari belongs!

5. Musharraf ditched the then political force, MMA and nation over docking of his military chief uniform in 2004 and President Zardari ditched today's political force, Nawaz Sharif & the whole nation over reinstatement of Ifthikhar Chaudhry and broke off three agreements. Most recent one was - soon after Musharraf's resignation, within 24 hours, Ifthikhar Chaudhry will be restored - didn't come true!

6. They both inclined to US policies and given a blind eye to all US atrocities in FATA and tribal areas over use of drone attacks those killing scores of innocent civilians. Because Musharraf has sold, for million of dollars, many of religious Pakistanis to CIA that's how he was silent over 'missing Pakistani' (ref his book 'In the Line of Fire') whereas President Zardari is silent over such missing Pakistanis for no reason!

7. Musharraf had introduced, and some how managed to get 17^th amendment passed through National Assembly / Senate of Pakistan. President Zardari, since over a year, had no plans to revive that amendment to restore real democracy, willing to hold all powers including 58(2b) in his own hand like his predecessor, Musharraf. Recently President Zardari has 'ordered' PM Gilani to openly speak to nation saying that, “nation has not voted PPP for removal of President extra powers, so PPP will not move any motion in the house!

8. Musharraf was about to be 'court-marshalled' by the then army management over his extra & un precedent leaves but luckily escaped that due to 1965 war. President Zardari luckily got chance to head PPP after Benazir's assassination, and has escaped court proceedings due to 'famous' National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). All his wrong-doings were white-washed and he got a clean slate, even cases against him, moved by the then successive govts., were taken back in International courts!

9. Musharraf had made the nation fool by saying that 'his US trip is official', whereas that 21 days trip was meant to 'launch his controversial book â€" In the line of Fire!' in which he had made good fortune by selling wrong facts. President Zardari made nation fool by saying that, 'he will visit China soon after assuming Presidential office. In fact, his first foreign visit was for US, where he was hugging Sarah Palin, viceâ€"presidential candidate who failed to win the election, and for United Nation's speech.

10. Musharraf didn't like some of the journalists and anchors over electronic media. He had ordered media management to bar such critical 'media men.' Finally he has banned media not to show the real side of his governance whereas President Zardari termed journalist as 'real terrorists,' tried to divulge them and a separate cell is setup to tackle such 'terrorist,' who are exposing all wrong-doings in the society.

11. Musharraf had placed his governors in all provinces, President Zardari even after assuming the Govt and President office continued to work with same Musharraf-men!

12. In spite of ground facts, Musharraf had given a blind eye to Dr Shazia's case by confirming Captain Hammad, son of his close army friend, innocence without any investigations and had accused woman by saying that, “I know, few Pakistani women for the sake of US or Canadian visa could indulge themselves into rape to earn West sympathies & immigration, whereas President Zardari, beside all the proven facts, has given a blind eye to Farah Hameed Dogar case and his govt is extending all support to culprits.