Asif Ali Zardari: Political Journey, Legacy, and Influence on Pakistani Politics
Asif Ali Zardari, born on July 26, 1955, in Karachi, Pakistan, is a central figure in Pakistan’s political landscape. A former President of Pakistan (2008-2013) and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Zardari’s political journey is intertwined with the legacy of the Bhutto family, to which he is connected through his marriage to Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister. His rise to prominence, from being seen primarily as the spouse of Benazir Bhutto to becoming one of Pakistan’s most powerful politicians, is marked by both controversy and significant political achievements.
This essay explores Asif Ali Zardari’s early life, political rise, his years as President, his role in navigating Pakistan through a period of significant political and economic challenges, his confrontations with the military and judiciary, and his enduring influence on Pakistan’s politics, especially through his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and the PPP.
1. Early Life and Background
Asif Ali Zardari was born into a prominent Sindhi family with landholdings and business interests. His father, Hakim Ali Zardari, was a wealthy landowner and a politician with ties to various political figures of his time, including Ghulam Muhammad, one of Pakistan’s early Governors-General. Zardari grew up in a politically active environment but did not immediately pursue politics. He was educated at Karachi Grammar School and later attended Cadet College, Petaro, a prestigious military school. He also briefly studied business in London, although he did not complete a degree.
Before his marriage to Benazir Bhutto, Zardari was not widely known in the political sphere. His reputation at the time was that of a businessman, involved in the family’s real estate ventures and polo, which he was passionate about. However, his marriage to Benazir Bhutto in 1987 propelled him into the national spotlight and set the stage for his future political career.
2. Marriage to Benazir Bhutto and Entry into Politics
Zardari’s marriage to Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, connected him to one of Pakistan’s most iconic political families. The Bhutto family, through the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), has been a major political force in the country since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto founded the party in the late 1960s. After the marriage, Zardari became an integral part of Benazir’s political life, accompanying her on international tours and participating in political events.
Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister for the first time in 1988, shortly after General Zia-ul-Haq’s death in a plane crash. Zardari’s role during this period was not formal, but his proximity to power soon attracted media attention. Allegations of corruption began to surface, with Zardari earning the nickname “Mr. 10 Percent,” a reference to alleged kickbacks and commissions from government contracts. These allegations, although never proven in a court of law during this time, tainted his public image and led to his frequent depiction in the media as a corrupt figure.
Zardari served two stints in jail during Benazir Bhutto’s terms as Prime Minister. His first imprisonment came during the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1990, when Benazir’s first government was dismissed on charges of corruption and maladministration. He was jailed on various charges, including corruption and involvement in political violence, but was released after the PPP returned to power in 1993. His second imprisonment, after Benazir’s second government was dismissed in 1996, would be much longer and more politically consequential.
3. Imprisonment and Struggles (1996-2004)
After the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto’s second government by President Farooq Leghari in 1996, Zardari was arrested on numerous charges, including corruption, embezzlement, and even murder. The most prominent charge was his alleged involvement in the murder of Murtaza Bhutto, Benazir’s brother, who was killed in a police encounter in 1996. This period marked one of the darkest phases in Zardari’s life, as he spent nearly eight years in jail without being convicted of any charges.
Despite his imprisonment, Zardari remained politically active through his lawyers and supporters within the PPP. Benazir Bhutto, who had gone into self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, frequently campaigned for his release, claiming that the charges against him were politically motivated. His long incarceration without a trial became a symbol of the politicization of Pakistan’s judicial system, where political opponents were often targeted through legal means.
In 2004, after spending eight years in jail, Zardari was finally released on bail. Despite the severe allegations against him, no convictions were ever secured, and he emerged from prison with a new political resolve. His release marked the beginning of his active involvement in the PPP’s leadership, especially as Benazir Bhutto continued to live in exile.
4. The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the Rise of Asif Ali Zardari
Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on December 27, 2007, during an election campaign rally in Rawalpindi, was a turning point in Pakistan’s political history and in Asif Ali Zardari’s personal and political life. Benazir’s death left a significant vacuum in the PPP, and the party needed a leader to carry forward her legacy.
In the wake of Benazir’s assassination, Asif Ali Zardari assumed the role of co-chairperson of the PPP, alongside his young son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Bilawal, still a student at Oxford University at the time, was too young to take on full leadership responsibilities, leaving Zardari to navigate the party through one of its most challenging periods. Many within the PPP and political analysts saw Zardari’s rise as a temporary arrangement, with Bilawal expected to take the reins in the future. However, Zardari’s political acumen and ability to maneuver through Pakistan’s complex political landscape ensured that he remained at the helm of the party for years to come.
Zardari’s leadership of the PPP in the immediate aftermath of Benazir’s death was marked by calls for justice and demands for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of her assassination. The PPP won a significant number of seats in the general elections of 2008, although not an outright majority. In a coalition government with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other smaller parties, the PPP was able to secure the presidency for Zardari, marking the beginning of his five-year tenure as President of Pakistan.
5. Presidency of Pakistan (2008-2013)
Asif Ali Zardari was elected President of Pakistan in September 2008, succeeding Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under threat of impeachment. Zardari’s tenure as President was a crucial period for Pakistan, characterized by political instability, economic challenges, a deteriorating security situation due to the rise of militancy, and strained relations with the United States and neighboring India.
Economic Challenges and Policies
Zardari’s presidency coincided with a period of severe economic instability in Pakistan. The country was grappling with high inflation, energy shortages, and a growing fiscal deficit. To stabilize the economy, Zardari’s government sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), securing a bailout package in 2008 to prevent an economic collapse. However, the structural reforms demanded by the IMF, including cuts to subsidies and tax reforms, were politically unpopular and difficult to implement in a country already reeling from poverty and unemployment.
Zardari’s economic policies were focused on liberalization, promoting foreign investment, and attempting to address the country’s chronic energy crisis. His government initiated several energy projects, including the construction of new power plants and efforts to increase electricity generation capacity. However, these efforts were hampered by political instability, corruption allegations, and the slow pace of implementation.
Constitutional Reforms and Strengthening Democracy
One of the most significant achievements of Zardari’s presidency was the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan in 2010. This amendment represented a major shift in Pakistan’s political system, as it aimed to strengthen democratic institutions and reduce the power of the presidency, which had been significantly enhanced under General Musharraf’s rule.
The 18th Amendment restored parliamentary sovereignty by removing the president’s power to unilaterally dissolve the National Assembly and dismiss the Prime Minister, powers that had been used in the past to destabilize elected governments. The amendment also devolved greater authority to Pakistan’s provinces, granting them more control over resources and governance. This decentralization was seen as a way to address longstanding grievances in provinces like Balochistan, where feelings of marginalization had fueled separatist sentiments.
By voluntarily ceding presidential powers to the parliament and the provinces, Zardari’s government made a substantial contribution to strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions. This move was widely lauded both domestically and internationally as a positive step toward consolidating democracy in Pakistan.
Relations with the Military and Judiciary
Throughout his presidency, Zardari faced significant challenges from Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and an increasingly assertive judiciary. His relationship with the military, in particular, was fraught with tension, as the military had historically wielded significant influence over Pakistan’s foreign and security policies, especially regarding India, Afghanistan, and the United States.
The most notable confrontation between Zardari’s government and the military came in the aftermath of the Memogate scandal in 2011. The scandal revolved around a controversial memo allegedly