Re: Zardari also heading for a showdown with the Judiciary?
Zardari has every right to hold both posts (President and Co-chairman of PPP) and there should be no problem about it to anyone. All who are making fuss about Zardari holding two posts are just doing it for political reasons as well as for demonising Zardari.
Fact is that, Politicians (actually, political parties) nominate Presidential candidates and politicians vote for President. Thus, Presidential office is political post. Presidential post is same as Governors post, Prime Ministerial post, speakers post, Chief Ministers’ posts, or post of ministers (Federal or Provincial). They are all political posts similar to each other.
Only thing one can say is that: Expected requirement is that any politician who gets into any of above mentioned executive posts, they work (or at least they should work) for Pakistan and should show neutrality in their dealings.
In other words:
Speaker once elected is speaker of country, thus he could follow party’s principles, but is not expected to show partiality when dealing with his office affairs or towards Assembly members.
Similarly, Prime Minister once elected is Prime Minister of country, and thus expected to follow party’s manifesto, but is not expected to show partiality when dealing in his office affairs, dealing towards assembly members, and dealing towards citizen of country (should show impartiality in dealing with voters, ignoring who they vote).
Similarly, Ministers once selected by Prime Minister is Minister of country, and thus expected to follow party’s manifesto, but is not expected to show partiality when dealing in his office affairs towards citizen of country (should show impartiality in dealing with voters, ignoring who they vote).
Similarly, President once elected becomes President of country and even though should/could follow party values and manifesto, should/could influence his party in meetings and gatherings, but is not expected to show partiality when dealing in his office affairs, towards ministers, towards assembly members, and towards citizen of country (should show impartiality in dealing with voters, ignoring who they vote).
Same is true of Governors, Chief Ministers, or advisors to these political posts.
Thus, in my opinion, Zardari could be chairman of PPP and President of Pakistan at the same time, as that does not (and should not) conflict with interest of Pakistan, as all parties are Pakistani parties, loyal to Pakistan, and work for Pakistan (according to their values, principles, and manifestoes).
As chairman of PPP, Zardari is expected to safeguard the interest of Pakistan as well as can look after the affairs of PPP, work for PPP, and make election and manifesto plans for PPP ... as none can be considered as conflict with the interest of Pakistan.
As President of Pakistan Zardari is expected to safeguard the interest of Pakistan, is expected to be impartial when dealing with Pakistani affairs under his responsibility, is expected to show neutrality when dealing with Prime Minister, Ministers, assembly members (of all parties), and when dealing with citizen of Pakistan.
That is all.