Thaindian News

Islamabad, Dec 16 (IANS) The threat to Pakistan’s “democratic process do lurk in the shadows” and President Asif Ali Zardari needs to return from Dubai to calm nerves, said a leading Pakistani daily.

There have been conflicting reports about the health of Zardari, who abruptly flew out of the country to Dubai Dec 6. The sudden departure sparked coup rumours that were scotched by the US.

Authorities have said that Zardari is convalescing in a private residence in Dubai and his doctor suggests that the tests undergone by the president produced normal results.

An editorial in the Dawn Friday said that missing information is “about what triggered the episode that led to Zardari being rushed to Dubai and when he will return to Pakistan”.

It said that the Pakistan Peoples Party should share more information with the media and the public.

“If not a date by which the president will return to Pakistan - if a date of return is announced and Zardari does not return, yet more speculation will occur - then at least a recorded video statement by the president could help assuage concerns about his health and fitness to hold public office,” it said.

The editorial went on to say that Zardari must know that he simply cannot afford to leave his return to Pakistan open-ended.

“In this situation, Zardari needs to return to Pakistan to try and calm nerves and quell speculation that refuses to die down.”

Noting that health concerns are paramount, it, however, said that since all tests were normal and Zardari is fit enough to be discharged to a private residence in Dubai, “surely the short flight to Islamabad will not be impossible to make soon”.

“Like it or not, the reality of Pakistan is that threats to the democratic process do lurk in the shadows. It is the responsibility of the civilian political leadership to deal with those threats effectively,” Dawn said.

“And as president of the country, part of that responsibility falls on the shoulders of Zardari. He must return soon.”