'Zardaris Two Years As President

The fact that he is still in office is in itself an achievement. He has, so far-and it is important to add this caveat-survived at least two close shaves. One, during the movement for the restoration of the judiciary and, later, after the NRO decision. Had the president stuck to his guns and not restored Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges, the long march would have continued to Islamabad, with unforeseen consequences. He fought on grimly till the end, and then capitulated at the last minute. During the hearing of the NRO case, there was wide speculation that Zardari would be disqualified from holding the office of president. It did not quite happen like that, but by asking the government to write to the Swiss authorities the Supreme Court seemed to initiate the process. Prime Minister Gilani refused to carry out this order and thus began a struggle with the court that was speculated to end in the government's ouster or, at least, of the president's. As we know, this has also not happened.