Another bombshell in store for Zardari

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By Azim M Mian

NEW YORK: Restoration of the chief justice and other judges may be the end of a political crisis that has caused a rebellion in the PPP and brought down its popularity graph, but President Asif Zardari is about to face another crisis of credibility from his own family members, sources close to the Bhutto family told this correspondent.

Even the Chairman of PPP, Bilawal Zardari, at this young age, may have to come in public and support his beloved Aunt Sanam Bhutto against his father�s claims of material and political inheritance of his Shaheed mother Benazir Bhutto.

A source close to an international interviewer Daphne Barak has confirmed to this correspondent that Sanam Bhutto has already spoken loud and clear about her brother-in-law, President Asif Zardari during the last weekend. Though the contents of this interview have not been revealed, sources close to Daphne Barak told The News that �Zardari, who was elected, using his late wife�s legacy and the Bhutto family would be embarrassed by Sanam Bhutto�s cold and determined disclosures.� The time and location of the release of this Interview is not known as yet.

The bold and sometimes angry remarks of Sanam Bhutto may create such controversy that Bilawal Bhutto, at this young age, may have to take his own stand in this dispute. Very likely, he will support his favorite aunt Sanam Bhutto against his father, with whom he is already at odds on certain issues after her mother�s death.

Sanam Bhutto does not want to see Bilawal�s studies disturbed, but she also does not want to see the welfare of three young children of her sister being compromised. She has spoken as time is running out. Moreover, Sanam has been very upset with Asif Zardari�s handling of the PPP that is the most precious political legacy of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and her sister Benazir Bhutto. He betrayed her sister�s promises to the nation about restoration of judges, caused political friction to the point that led Pakistan to the brink of civil war and caused historic damage to the popular Pakistan People�s Party to the maximum extent. Reportedly Sanam Bhutto has said, �My father, my brothers, my mother all of us suffered and made sacrifices for PPP and Asif Zardari has usurped it. He has made this party unpopular by his acts, purging of loyalists and politically seasoned elements, betraying the pledges and goals defined by Benazir Bhutto.�

In addition to political legacy of Benazir Bhutto, some issues of properties and financial fortunes are also cause of friction. Sanam Bhutto is acting as the watchdog of Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Assefa�s interests and is concerned that other members of Zardari family are working to derive benefits.

This correspondent attempted to contact the well-recognized interviewer Daphne Barak, but she was not available due to her travel plans. However a source close to her confirmed that Sanam Bhutto had a long conversation with some determined and cold remarks on certain issues about Asif Zardari.

Daphne Barak and Benazir Bhutto have been friends for over 15 years and had very close relationship. She has insight into Benazir-Zardari relationship during the last 12 years. She is an insider of Bhutto family on many issues.

Ms Barak is going to be one of the first witnesses before the UN Commission to investigate the murder of Benazir Bhutto. She has already been invited by the UN officials for help and Daphane Barak has provided all her record, notes and recordings of Benazir Bhutto to the Chairperson of this Commission.

The UN secretary-general has yet not announced the name of the third member of this UN Commission while Chile�s ambassador to UN has been designated as the chairman.