Clean and clear
The Swiss prosecutor, after an 11-year-long investigation, has dropped charges against Asif Ali Zardari. The man most likely to be the future president of Pakistan thus now has no case against him anywhere in the world. Suddenly, he is 'Mr Clean', the charges of corruption against him falling away magically in courts everywhere.
The Swiss decision comes in the wake of a similar move by Pakistani prosecutors. An amount of 3.9 million Swiss francs seized in the case will be handed back to the government in Geneva. But the real question, which goes beyond all decisions involving legal formalities or proceedings in courtrooms, is the image in people's minds. For many, perhaps for most in the country, Asif Ali Zardari remains a highly controversial figure. Past allegations of corruption are simply one factor in this. There are also other accounts of involvement in all kinds of wrongdoing. For the widow and children of the late Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Zardari remains the prime suspect in the still-unsolved murder. To be fair, many others are of the view that this is entirely the result of agency concoction and manipulation. That Zardari has been vilified and like the dark villains of comic books, painted entirely in shades of black. Clearly, he cannot be as evil as these elements would have us believe.
But for all that, perception is often more powerful than fact. Because Mr Zardari brings with him so much suspicion and doubts as to his integrity, he is not the ideal candidate for president. Such a figure should be above board, respected within the country – trusted as a leader. The events of the past few months, during which agreements have been broken, verbal commitments thrown gaily to the winds, act only to further murky the waters. In such a situation, the Swiss decision makes little difference. Mr Zardari marches forward towards the office of president – which will also bring him immunity from the courts – but with him he takes a great deal of mistrust. How this will influence events in the country over the days ahead is something only time will tell.
Posted on: 26-August-2008
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Source: The News (http://www.news.com.pk)
The Swiss decision comes in the wake of a similar move by Pakistani prosecutors. An amount of 3.9 million Swiss francs seized in the case will be handed back to the government in Geneva. But the real question, which goes beyond all decisions involving legal formalities or proceedings in courtrooms, is the image in people's minds. For many, perhaps for most in the country, Asif Ali Zardari remains a highly controversial figure. Past allegations of corruption are simply one factor in this. There are also other accounts of involvement in all kinds of wrongdoing. For the widow and children of the late Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Zardari remains the prime suspect in the still-unsolved murder. To be fair, many others are of the view that this is entirely the result of agency concoction and manipulation. That Zardari has been vilified and like the dark villains of comic books, painted entirely in shades of black. Clearly, he cannot be as evil as these elements would have us believe.
But for all that, perception is often more powerful than fact. Because Mr Zardari brings with him so much suspicion and doubts as to his integrity, he is not the ideal candidate for president. Such a figure should be above board, respected within the country – trusted as a leader. The events of the past few months, during which agreements have been broken, verbal commitments thrown gaily to the winds, act only to further murky the waters. In such a situation, the Swiss decision makes little difference. Mr Zardari marches forward towards the office of president – which will also bring him immunity from the courts – but with him he takes a great deal of mistrust. How this will influence events in the country over the days ahead is something only time will tell.
Posted on: 26-August-2008
Share:
Source: The News (http://www.news.com.pk)
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