Benazir-Zardari | despardes.com

Benazir and Zardari: Is it the end game?
BY Masood Haider

Ms Bhutto who went to Geneva minus her husband was either taking steps to finally sever ties with Mr. Zardari or it was just a ploy to get her off the hook and let her husband take the fall. Either way, something does not look �kosher� noted one political expert.

NEW YORK, OCT 3: Is it the end game for the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, Ms. Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari?

Many PPP supporters ( jialas ) from New York to Karachi have expressed grave concern at Mr. Zardari's continued presence in New York, ostensibly to undergo aggressive cardiac rehabilitation therapy while his wife the former Prime Minister shuttles between London, Geneva and Dubai without visiting her spouse.

Mr. Zardari underwent a simple procedure in a Dubai hospital to place a stent to unclog his blocked artery but apparently it was not enough. After intensive tests, procedures and experts' advices, he had another stent placed. Now they say he is undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.

But Ms Bhutto�s total absence from the scene is more foreboding. Many political pundits here speculate that things have really gone bad in the Bhutto/Zardari household. Have the couple moved on? Is the relationship over? they ask.

And last month testifying in a Geneva court in a money laundering case, Ms Bhutto disassociated herself from the businesses of her family including her husband, mother and brother-in-law.

Ms Bhutto who went to Geneva minus her husband was either taking steps to finally sever ties with Mr. Zardari or it was just a ploy to get her off the hook and let her husband take the fall. Either way, something does not look �kosher� noted one political expert.

Benazir and her so called agent Jens Schlegelmilch had recorded their statements before the examining magistrate, Geneva Attorney General Daniel Zappelli and counsels for the Government of Pakistan on September 19, according to news reports.

�Benazir looked very emotional throughout the hearing that lasted for over eight hours and tried to politicize the case, accusing the military of ousting her from power and registering cases against her with political motives,� the officials said, adding that nearly 4.35 million pounds had been shifted to London from offshore companies for the purchase of the Surrey Palace.

About the money deposited in Swiss banks in the names of Nusrat Bhutto, Zardari and Nasir Hussain, Benazir said she was unaware of the bank accounts and had nothing to do with her family members� business. She did not comment on the statement that the offshore companies received millions of dollars in �commissions� for the award of SGS COTECNA pre-shipment inspection contracts. She denied involvement in the contracts.

Schlegelmilch had signed an agreement, saying that assets of the Bomer Finance Company would be equally divided between Zardari and Benazir families after the former's death. Benazir denied any knowledge of the document, saying any information on the document should be sought from Schlegelmilch.

Schlegelmilch said a company run by Zardari had paid for jewelry costing �120,000 for Benazir, but she refused to accept it. Asked why she had refused to accept the gift, Benazir said her mother had told her that the gift was �inappropriate.� She also said that it was her personal affair to accept or reject any gift.

As for Mr. Zardari, he tested political waters so to speak when he made an aborted return to Pakistan recently. He was welcomed and greeted and there were persistent reports that he could be an acceptable leader of Pakistan Peoples party as against his wife Ms Bhutto.

Ms Bhutto, as far as the Military junta is concerned, is an unacceptable leader who has been tested and has failed the people of Pakistan. All requests to allow her to participate in elections and let the people's court decide her fate have been rejected.

Mr. Zardari found his party deeply fractured and factionalized. Besides, he knew that the only person ultimately acceptable to the PPP electorate would be Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto�s daughter and no one else. He flew back to Dubai.

According to reports, Ms Bhutto was not too pleased with Mr. Zardari's performance while in Pakistan and asked him to step aside. But before any other differences could emerge Mr. Zardari suffered what was termed a "massive heart attack." He underwent emergency procedures at the Dubai hospital. Apparently the Dubai doctors were unable to properly diagnose Mr. Zardari's heart condition, so he came toy New York for more tests and had another angioplasty.

But the recovery period for anyone who has had multiple angioplasty is relatively small. It takes at the most five weeks for the rehabilitation process, followed by regular exercises, diet control and drug regimen.

Mr. Zardari is now languishing in New York, reportedly surrounded by few good friends, has made himself unavailable to the media per se. He has met with journalists but only on personal level.

But Ms Bhutto's absence and or lack of concern for her husband is a cause of concern for many PPP followers in New York and elsewhere.

Speculations are abound that Ms Bhutto by disassociating herself from the Swiss bank accounts has sent a clear message to all in her party that Asif Zadari does not speak for her or the party.

Says one Pakistani-American, "if the couple splits, it will be a personal tragedy but it may propel Benazir's political career towards new horizons. Anything is possible."

However, the final curtain on this family drama is yet to unfold.

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