THE fall of the Musharraf regime was a victory of people`s political power through ballot, which heralded a new era of democracy and the rule of law. The PPP emerged as the most popular and the biggest party in this election. Now it has nominated Asif Ali Zardari as its candidate to succeed Mr Musharraf.

The decision has been warmly welcomed by all those forces which believe in the smooth running of democratic institutions. But at the same time there is a debate in the national and international press on the issue of his eligibility and credibility.

They forget that Mr Zardari saved Pakistan by raising the slogan of `Pakistan khapi` after Benazir Bhutto`s assassination. Now the people of Sindh want to see him to be at the highest seat of the troika. The first reason for this is Sindh`s great sacrifice against dictatorship, terrorism and authoritarian ruler.

It was Mr Zardari`s sagacity that Sindhis came back to peaceful politics of ballot and gave a clear message to the establishment that they still want to live in the federation.

The PPP leadership could have exploited the situation but they kept on saying that “we will go for the election and democracy is the best revenge”. In fact, Mr Zardari saved an already vulnerable Pakistan.

When there was an election for the prime minister, Sindh again gave a clear verdict that any efficient and effective person who is able to run the federation should be our prime minister.

Sindhis are of the view that the candidate of Q-League is a legacy of dictatorship and authoritarian rule of Mr Musharraf, in which Benazir Bhutto, Akbar Bugti, Baalach, and hundreds of other political leaders and workers were killed.

According to the Constitution, the president represents the unity of the Republic, he or she should command confidence and respect of the people of all the four federating units and should be a symbol of harmony and cohesiveness. The PPP and its candidate really fit the job.

It is true that Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui did not take the oath under the Musharraf PCO but he had accepted undue benefits from Mr Musharraf. To placate judges who did not take the oath at that time, Sharifuddin Pirzada had convinced Mr Musharraf to issue an order to grant pensions to those judges, according to their normal retirement age of 65 years. Justice Siddiqui was 62 at that time but he accepted the undue benefits.

He played a highly controversial role in the judicial coup against former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. His role in that conspiracy is most condemnable because he had illegally taken over the powers of the chief justice and had issued his own roster sending the CJP case to a full court and had restrained the legal and Constitutional chief justice Pakistan.

Justice Siddiqui led about nine other SC judges to overthrow the chief justice of their own court, a first of its kind action in the whole world.

As there were some problems regarding his appointment as CJP, he took up a case against an ISI wing but dropped it as soon as he was conferred the position of the CJP.

ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO

Hyderabad