Zardari could do a Putin to become Pak PM: Report

With rumours swirling about his status and ultimate fate,Asif Ali Zardari could well do a Vladimir Putin and step down as Pakistan’s President to become the prime minister,a media report said.

Quoting a Pakistani source,the US-based ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine reported Zardari could “pull a Putin” whereby he cedes power to the prime minister and then,as head of his party,makes a ploy to have himself elected to that post.

However,it’s unclear how successful such a ploy might be,the magazine said.

In fact,since late last month,calls for Zardari to step down have increased following the release of a list of names of politicians who benefited from a National Reconciliation Ordinance and the November 28 expiration of the amnesty he received under that agreement.