Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari continues to lack credibility and face a serious image problem one year after he took the reigns. Zardari who was once so tainted by corruption allegations that he acquired the nickname "Mr Ten Percent" ascended to presidency last September after military dictator Pervez Musharraf resigned fearing impeachment. But the problems of his controversial past, which included 11 years in jail on charges ranging from corruption to murder, were supplanted by the Islamic militancy and economic turmoil which he now must tackle.The Image of "Ten Percent" for Zardari is very much there and is increasing, said professor Khurshid Ahmed, head of Islamabad-based independent Institute of Policy Studies.
"Almost in every field of economy, he has put his own cronies in key positions," Ahmed said.
Zardari's life journey has taken him from playboy to villain to political heir of the slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, whose image still casts a shadow over daily life here.
The 54-year-old Zardari is the 14th president in Pakistan's short but often turbulent 62-year history, and now has the power to dismiss governments and appoint leaders of the country's ever lurking military.But his colourful past could prove difficult to overcome. All the promises he made one year ago still remain unfulfilled.
"He has not surrendered sweeping powers including those of dissolving the parliament and dismissing the elected government," he added describing Zardari's performance "disappointing."
Political analyst Talat Masood said though Zardari was a legitimate president, but he suffered from the lack of credibility because he did not keep his words publicly.
"His greatest problem through out the year has been his credibility. People accept his legitimacy, but they doubt his credibility," Masood said.
Zardari's credibility was questioned when he twice refused to abide by the agreement with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on reinstatement of chief justice of Supreme Court.
But Zardari had to reinstate the judges deposed by Musharraf under 2007 emergency rule after Sharif started a long march from Lahore to Islamabad in March.
Zardari's decision not to give up the powers to dissolve parliament was not well taken by people and cast shadow on his credibility, Masood said.
Analysts however gave credit to Zardari for victory against Taliban in Swat, Buner and Dir districts of Malakand division which gave a severe blow to militancy.
"The operation in Swat was a success," analyst Hasan Askari said adding that Zardari has maintained goods relationship with the US.
Zardari repeatedly called the war on terror as his own war which also killed his wife in a gun a suicide attack during an election rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.
"President Zardari has also worked in harmony with the military for strict action against militants in Swat and South Waziristan, which has won him appreciation at the international level," Askari said.
However, Askari said he was dismayed as far as overall internal situation was concerned.
"We continue to face a bad situation in the country because no problems such as price hike, inflation, directly hitting the common people have been addressed."
He said the government appeared to be extremely poor in matters relating to governance.
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