Asif Zardari: A revisionist view

Farhatullah Babar is well known in Pakistan as an intellectual and politician with strong loyalties to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

- T C A RAGHAVAN

During Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's tenure in the 1990s, he was her speech writer and spokesperson. He has been a member multiple times of Pakistan's upper chamber or senate. Within Pakistan's political spectrum, he stands out as a prominent liberal voice who has consistently sought to reduce the role of the military establishment in political matters and equally as a strong and passionate advocate of human rights and democratic values.

He was the PPP spokesperson when Benazir was assassinated in December 2007. To his surprise, Asif Ali Zardari, who emerged as Benazir's principal legatee as her husband and father of her children, asked him to stay on in the job. In the political churn of the post-assassination situation, Mr Zardari catapulted himself to the Presidency in September 2008 as General Parvez Musharraf was forced to resign rather than face the humiliation of certain impeachment. The PPP had in the meantime won the general election and formed the government. Mr Babar was again surprised when Mr Zardari asked him to become the President's spokesperson.