Zardari says 'establishment' not opposed to his presidency bid

Islamabad, Aug 31 (PTI) Eyeing presidency after the Pakistani army's very own Pervez Musharraf's departure, Asif Ali Zardari, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (P.P.P.'s) candidate for the top post, says the 'establishment' is with him in his quest to succeed the former military ruler.

He said the 'establishment' -- a euphemism for army in Pakistan -- has not opposed or expressed reservations over his candidature in the September six presidential poll.

"The establishment has its own sensitivities which we keep in view while taking decisions," Zardari told 'The News' daily at the Prime Minister's House annexe, where he has shifted for security reasons after becoming the P.P.P. presidential candidate.

He said if all state institutions work within their
specified domain, there is no need for a contestant to consult
the 'establishment' on becoming or not becoming a candidate in
the presidential race.

The P.P.P. presidential nominee said he always
tremendously felt 'under pressure' when Musharraf, who
resigned on August 18, was occupying presidency. "Now, I am
relieved and feel no pressure," he was quoted as saying.

Turning to another topic, the P.P.P. chief said a section
of media was "very vicious against me", apparently referring
to reports in western newspapers about his mental health.

"The baseless propaganda was unleashed because some
people don't want to see the P.P.P. strong and strengthened,
having its own President," he said, adding "they might have
their own fears."

Zardari, who is confident of winning the presidential
poll, said "after my election ... my third promise with (slain
wife and former premier) Benazir (Bhutto) will be fulfilled."

"The first pledge was met when our nominee (Yousuf Raza
Gilani) was elected as the prime minister of Pakistan while
the second commitment to her was fulfilled when Fehmida Mirza
was elevated as the speaker of the National Assembly," the
first woman to take the coveted post in the country's history,
he said.

Zardari also said that after the PPP-led government
assumed power, his first major task was to get rid of
Musharraf.

About the price hike in Pakistan, Zardari said "we will
start finding solutions to nagging problems immediately after
the presidential election."

Meanwhile, an unnamed Zardari aide was quoted as saying
by the paper that the P.M.L.-N's insistence that the P.P.P.
nominee should not be the next President was totally uncalled
for and unjustified.

He said they took the situation to a stage where it
became impossible for the coalition to remain in one piece.
"Why should we forego our right to have our President if we
believe in democracy?"

The aide claimed that the 'rightist' forces of Pakistan
had put up Sharif as their leader and added that there was no
doubt that whenever next parliamentary elections would be
held, the PPP and PML-N would be the main contenders against
each other. PTI