Can Zardari Be Trusted in the Fight against Jihadi Terrorism?
15 Dec, 2008
Education and early life
Asif Ali Zardari born 26 July 1955 is the 12th and current President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). This party was founded by Zulfikar Bhutto who was the father of Nuclearisation of Pakistan. Zardari is the widower of Benazir Bhutto (Zulfikar Bhutto daughter), who twice served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Zardari belongs to a Shia Muslim family from the Nawabshah town of Sindh. His father Hakim Ali Zardari was the owner of a small time theatre in the same town. Zardari acquired his high school education from the Cadet College Petaro, which is incidentally the only education he has. Even though he claimed later on to have a Bachelors degree from a college in London whose existence has yet to be proven. Until his marriage with Benazir Bhutto on 18 December 1987, he was a relatively unknown figure on the political scene of Pakistan.
Member of National Assembly
Zardari served once as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, and was even the Minister of Environment during his wife’s second term as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. In spite of his keen interest in the finance Ministry, his wife opted to keep him in a non revenue generating department. Once during his term as a minister he made an absurd claim during a press conference, that his Ministry had motivated every student to plant a tree. Of course he backtracked from his statement when asked to authenticate his claims.
He also served as a Senator until the Military coup by Pervez Mussharaf in which the then Prime Minister was ousted and both the lower and upper houses of Pakistani Assembly were dissolved.
Co-chairman of the PPP
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007 while returning with her convoy after addressing a public rally. Three days later proclaimed himself as the co-chairman of the PPP along with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Bilawal is intended to fully assume the post soon after he completes his education in Oxford.
On March 5, 2008, soon after coming to power, Zardari was absolved five of the corruption charges because the courts abolished the cases against all public office holders’ illegal use of property under NRO, the National Reconciliation Ordinance. Undergoing another trial on the remaining charges, on April 14, 2008 he was absolved the remaining charge. Soon after being absolved of all the charges of corruption against him he announced that he would be fighting the next elections and if his party won a 2/3rds majority in the Elections we would not mind taking up the Prime Minister’s position.
Controversies
Somehow Mr. Zardari and controversy seem to have a strange relation. Whether controversies follow him or is it the other way around is very hard to tell judging from the man’s life. Let us see a few of the controversies he has been involved in.
Money Laundering
Zardari was accused of money-laundering activities in a US Senate report on private banking and money-laundering. Zardari is still under criminal investigation in Switzerland over receipts of kickbacks from two Swiss-based companies while his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, served as the country's prime minister in the 1990s. Judge Daniel Devaud is to continue investigations despite pressure from US officials; he is the investigating magistrate in Geneva who has handled many high-profile investigations into laundering of corrupt payments through Switzerland by foreign politicians.
NRO beneficiary
Zardari is a beneficiary of the NRO issued by the former president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. Chief beneficiaries of this ordinance include Asif Ali Zardari, Rehman Malik and MQM workers and leaders.
Meeting with Sarah Palin
During his trip to the USA Zardari happened to meet Sarah Palin. During his meeting with her in his capacity as a President of Pakistan he told Palin that she was “gorgeous” and that now he knows why the whole of America is crazy about you. His infamous handshake and hug earned him a bad reputation, in international circles, for being undiplomatic. The Pakistanis being good Muslims were not too pleased at his Un Islamic gesture.
Outstanding Legal Cases
The most significant European cases are a Swiss money-laundering inquiry and a British civil case. In 2003, a Swiss investigative magistrate decided he had evidence against Zardari and his Ex-Wife after pursuing a money trail from offshore companies in the Caribbean to banks in Geneva to a jewelry shop here. Judge Daniel Devaud took advantage of a Swiss law allowing investigative magistrates to issue a summary verdict if they think the evidence is strong, and convicted Zardari and Bhutto of money laundering. A new magistrate reopened the investigation on charges of aggravated money laundering, a more serious offense based on the suspicion of systematic criminal activity. “Mr. Zardari denies having committed any crime whatsoever,” the lawyer, Saverio Lembo, said in an interview before Bhutto’s assassination. In his 2003 verdict, the Swiss judge connected Zardari to a chain of corruption that began with two Swiss companies, Cotecna and SGS. Starting in 1994, company executives courted Zardari in hopes of landing a contract to provide container inspection equipment and expertise to the Pakistani customs agency, according to Swiss court records.
As part of a secret deal, the judge found, and the Swiss contractors funneled $11.9 million in bribes into three offshore firms in the British Virgin Islands and ultimately into bank accounts in Geneva. The nominal owners of two companies were Bhutto’s mother and brother-in-law, according to the records.
The judge found that Zardari owned the third company, Bomer Finance, which received about $8 million, and that “Bhutto shares with her husband the assets” and “has power of disposition” over the company, according to the documents.
In Britain, the decade-old civil proceedings focus on Zardari. Zardari is accused of using illicit funds to acquire the 365-acre Rockwood estate, a $6.5-million property featuring a Tudor-style mansion and two adjoining farms in the Surrey district. The estate was bought and refurbished in 1995 through trusts in the Isle of Man and Liechtenstein and the Caribbean firms linked to Bhutto, Zardari and the alleged kickbacks, according to the lawsuit.
Zardari steadfastly denied ownership until January 2006, when he acknowledged he owned the property, according to British court records. The judge did rule that there is a “reasonable prospect” of proving that funds used to refurbish the estate were “the fruits of corruption,” according to the documents.
My Conclusions
Summing up the life of Asif Ali Zardari which has not been so holy when looking at in retrospect, we can safety assume that he definitely not a person who can be trusted by any sane nation. Furthermore he is the leader of an Islamic nation. A person as corrupt and lacking in resolve and moral integrity as him would unlikely risk angering Pakistani religious leaders by appearing to be siding with the global community on the issue of Islamic terrorism.
This is what I feel about this issue; I might be wrong.
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Ibrahim Lone is Kashmir-born ex-Muslim. He can be contacted at Ibrahim6661@gmail.com
Name: Asif Ali Zardari was psychologically unstable
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 02:50:37 -0500
Comment
Asif Ali Zardari was psychologically unstable. Some news papers wrote this. The world must unite and raid pak terror hubs.
Name: vbv
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 04:42:49 -0500
Comment
Asfali Zardari is not only half-educated but also a great opportunist who can turn the spots on him to suit himself. I bet he will survive as Pakistan's president because of his qualities and being a toy poodle of the military establishment of Pakistan. By himself ,he is a sly character, a toothless tiger but a ready puppet of the ISI. There is no relying on him or for that matter any socalled civilian government in Pakistan knowing well that it is the military establishment that has all the strings in its vice-like grip! Pakistan was never truly a people's democracy , the democracy lives at the mercy of its ruthless , amoral ,unscrupulous and evil military establishment. It is the army in Pakistan that calls the shots. If Zakirdari doesn't play ball with the Pakistani army, I am sure he will be bumped off summarily by the army with several cases foisted on him.
Name: Can Zardari be trusted
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 06:38:04 -0500
Comment
It is not the question whether to trust Zardari or not? But he is the smoke screen available to us. It is the mistake U.S. committed in Iraq. By removing Saddam it came to the forefront which India cannot afford. The facade of Zardari fighting the terrorists has to go on. Otherwise this will cause much more damage. All the players including U.S.,U.K., India etc. know this. One day will come when terrorists have to confront Zardari. Then the real drama will unfold.
Name: No question about trusting him.
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 08:10:39 -0500
Comment
Behind the smiling face of Zardari lies a shrewd brain.He used to be called called Mr.10% in Pakistan and was accused of siphoning huge amount of funds.He has his own compulsions even though he has suffered due to the terrorism.He is in no position to antagonise the ISI and the army.
Name: continuum to Ibrahim Lone
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 12:03:39 -0500
Comment
watch the pervert in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unx8dTSc8GY
Name: continuum to Ibrahim Lone
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 12:13:18 -0500
Comment
I do not know if zardari can be trusted. However Pakistani military and ISI are clandestinely supporting Taiban, LeT and other terrorist orgs. Just some time back one of the generals in the army who planned to expose this was murdered. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mystery-grows-over-generals-slaying-in-pakistan/80597-2.html
Name: Xnity n Islam
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 18:20:29 -0500
Comment
If Islam is one closed dogma, Xnity is its father. Here is what Xnity thinks about other faiths. The Roman Catholic Church explains in a Vatican declaration Doninus Lesus “Religions other than Christianity are considered to be gravely deficient. Their rituals can constitute an obstacle to salvation for their followers. A very lengthy stay in hell awaits the unsaved. The adverse consequences of individual following another religion other than Catholic religion are severe-perhaps, eternity in hell”. Pope Ratzinger stated, “Only the canonical books of old and new Testaments are inspired by the Holy Spirit and are without error”. The Baptist teaches “that all things are held together in Christ, Christ only, that all creation will find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus shall reign forever and ever”.
Name: duh_swami
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 19:26:22 -0500
Comment
Can Zardari Be Trusted in the Fight against Jihadi Terrorism? Another question is, will he fight at all? I think you answered here: Furthermore he is the leader of an Islamic nation. A person as corrupt and lacking in resolve and moral integrity as him would unlikely risk angering Pakistani religious leaders by appearing to be siding with the global community on the issue of Islamic terrorism. Most people of the above description are cowards. Cowards like to play the 'Lets you and him fight', game, so he might let his military do his fighting for him, but he won't do any of it...And if the temperature gets too hot, he can just take a few suitcases full of cash, fly to Venezuela, and hang out with Hugo for a while...
Name:
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 19:50:10 -0500
Comment
Xnity n Islam...The Roman Catholic Church does not represent, or speak for, all of Christianity. I would not expect Islam to promote some other religion, it only promotes itself. Christianity while it makes room for other religions, also promotes itself. So the question is not shameless self promotion, it is the question of just what is it that is being promoted? Christianity promotes the love of God, love of all humans, and for some, every 'living' thing....And Islam promotes what? Oh yeah...death...good thinking...
Name: duh_swami
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 20:03:33 -0500
Comment
Xnity n Islam...One more thing and I will quit hogging the thread...I don't know how I managed a double post above, sorry...Just as information...You probably don't know this, but in the US, one of the governments requirements for a religious tax free status, is to self promote. To recruit members, have meetings, and produce literature, among other requirements. So you might be right about the Churches attitude, but it is a necessary one. If they are not promoting their own religion as the one and only, who's religion should they be promoting?
Name:
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 21:59:54 -0500
Comment
Who asked Xnity not to promote itself. But promoting one's religion by calling others heathens, pagans, fit for everlasting hell etc is the most horrible thing. Unless and until Xnity gives up that dirty bitchy habid, it will remain in the shoes of Islam
Name: RE:The Neck-Bone of Buddhas
Date: Monday December 15, 2008
Time: 23:24:45 -0500
Comment
To zakir Naik's stooge, Do you know why Mohomet could not bend his neck. That was bcos he was suffering from Acromegaly. You should read Ali Sina's book.
Name: To fellow who post this comment
Date: Tuesday December 16, 2008
Time: 02:45:07 -0500
Comment
"Who asked Xnity not to promote itself. But promoting one's religion by calling others heathens, pagans, fit for everlasting hell etc is the most horrible thing. Unless and until Xnity gives up that dirty bitchy habid, it will remain in the shoes of Islam." I challenge you to pinpoint the exact verse in the Bible that says what you have posted.
Name: zardari is just yr average politician
Date: Tuesday December 16, 2008
Time: 05:38:48 -0500
Comment
zardari is just yr average politician.
Name: Zardari teri pen di lan
Date: Wednesday December 17, 2008
Time: 01:01:16 -0500
Comment
Pakistan di pen di lan
Name: To: To fellow who post this comment
Date: Wednesday December 17, 2008
Time: 20:50:51 -0500
Comment
I challenge you to pinpoint the exact verse in the Bible that says what you have posted. >> Buddy, I shall present you few holy verses from the Bible to show how kind it is towards so called pagan n their beliefs. Deuteronomy 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 12:3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. NOW WILL YOU SAY IT WAS THE ANGRY GOD FROM OLD TESTACLES... SORRY TESTAMENT? Huhhhh
Name: To above
Date: Wednesday December 17, 2008
Time: 23:43:30 -0500
Comment
Now where is the verse that says fit for everlasting hell?
Name: dd
Date: Thursday December 18, 2008
Time: 06:10:56 -0500
Comment
"Now where is the verse that says fit for everlasting hell?" I hate those who cling to worthless idols (Ps 31:6). He and he alone can give salvation (Jn 14:6). It follows axiomatically from this that all other religions lead to the only alternative to salvation - hell - a' are therefore evil. Sadly, this claim by Jesus is the root of that most characteristic of all Christian traits - intolerance. Christianity has always equated disbelief Jesus with evil and has castigated non-believers as godless, wicked, stubborn pagan, scoffers, followers of false prophets, idol worshippers (see e.g.2 Pet 2:l .-22).
Name: The question of Hell
Date: Thursday December 18, 2008
Time: 07:19:57 -0500
Comment
Hell is reserved for Satan and the demons.
Name: duh_swami
Date: Thursday December 18, 2008
Time: 21:52:39 -0500
Comment
Hell is located in the basement of Allah's paradise Hotel. It's where the furnace is, and where you can usually find Allah shoveling screaming kufrs into the fire. The furnace keeps the upstairs apartments, where the virgins entertain, warm. There shall be no cold jihadi's in Paradise, Allah willing...and he always is.
Name: Tofaan
Date: Monday December 22, 2008
Time: 00:54:03 -0500
Comment
Pigestan, sorry Pakistan: "Pakistan e matey e kuss goon Zardariya" (A Balochi proverb which fits Zardari and his Pigestan).