Hamid Mir Column Today on President Asif Ali Zardari

Hamid Mir column today  offers a deep intellectual analysis comparing the political life of Asif Ali Zardari to Fyodor Dostoevsky’s famous novel Crime and Punishment.

Not only does it recount Zardari’s political struggles, the conspiracies of his opponents, and his ordeals in prison, but it also attempts to construct a new narrative based on Farhatullah Babar’s book The Zardari Presidency.

The column discusses several key points:

1. The Dostoevsky Metaphor:

Dostoevsky, though a writer, was sentenced to death due to his anti-government activities, a sentence that was later commuted to imprisonment. He is compared to Zardari, who faced false cases and political vendettas. Like Raskolnikov, the character in Crime and Punishment who eventually bows before Sonia in repentance, the column poses the question: Who is Pakistan’s Raskolnikov?

2. Farhatullah Babar’s Book:

Babar portrays Zardari as a politician who was always depicted as a villain. His endurance, silence, and resistance are likened to Dostoevsky’s characters. The book highlights contradictions, such as portraying Zardari as ineffective in government while simultaneously including him in the cabinet.

3. The Complexity of Zardari’s Political Role:

Even within the Pakistan People’s Party, there are differing views on Zardari’s politics. His pivotal role in thwarting the 1989 vote of no-confidence is noted. The column also recalls Saifur Rehman’s apology, which symbolized political revenge.

4. Military Leadership and State Institutions:

It discusses the anti-Zardari strategies of generals like Kayani and Pasha. The Memogate scandal, the Abbottabad operation, and the role of intelligence agencies are mentioned as part of the conspiracies against Zardari.

5. The Current Scenario:

Zardari becoming President again in 2024 is seen as a sign that former opponents are now either silent or seeking reconciliation. His good relations with current Army Chief Asim Munir are presented as a historical U-turn.

Analytical Commentary:

The most important point of the column is that calling Zardari “Sonia” or “Dostoevsky” is not just a literary metaphor — it is a political narrative: that someone who was portrayed as a criminal for years remains active — and in some ways victorious — in the political arena.

At the end of the column, Hamid Mir raises a crucial question: If Zardari is Sonia, then who is Pakistan’s Raskolnikov? This is a bitter question, implying that those who treated him as a criminal for years now owe him an apology — or at least an acknowledgment of reality.

In Conclusion:

This column is not just a character sketch of Zardari — it is a literary and intellectual critique of Pakistan’s politics, judiciary, media, and establishment. It shows that roles in history change, villains become heroes, and the court of time is the highest court of all.