THIS is with reference to the report ‘DG ISPR rubbishes rumours of army chief becoming president’ (Dawn.Com, Aug 6). Even though such rumours have surfaced more than once in the last couple of months, anyone who has read The Zardari Presidency: Now It Must Be Told, penned by former presidential aide Farhatullah Babar, would not be too perturbed by what looks like an unnecessary brouhaha.

According to the book, which covers Mr Zardari’s first term (2008-13), the president had faced political volcanoes erupting around him, but survived each one of them, including the infamous Memogate scandal. He was under tre-mendous pressure, but faced it off with courage and acumen. He is likely to do that once again in his second term.

Having said that, the happenings this time are a bit different. This is so because all actors are on the same page, and this one-page mantra may continue due to the hybrid system that everyone seems to have agreed upon.

Our politicians merely need titles with or without power. They have always remained comfortable with the perception of power rather than the power itself. In this regard, they have successfully kept the masses busy in running after the basic necessities of life, like water and sanitation.

Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2025