The Chess Master: Asif Ali Zardari

There is no crisis too unmanageable, no obstacle insurmountable, and no quagmire too deep that former President Asif Ali Zardari was unable to worm his way out of during his five years in the hot seat. Zardari was characteristically absent from national politics in 2013, favoring secrecy over a public presence, despite being the first president to have addressed the joint session of the parliament a record six times.

The rise of Pakistan’s only president to have successfully handed over the civilian government to a democratically elected successor, is crammed with allegations of corruption, embezzlement, and falsified records. Sacrificing a Prime Minister who doggedly remained loyal to his master, Zardari gave up his vast presidential powers, reinstated the deposed judiciary and remained the political figurehead through the 2013 general elections. The 11th president was the first to have successfully completed his term on September 8, 2013.

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