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U.S. Relying on Two in People's Party to Help Stabilize Pakistan
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But the direction and leadership of the PPP, the most organized political party in Pakistan, are in doubt. "The party is adrift without a strong Bhutto at the top, and it has to grow up, which will take time," Robinson said.
Although he served in the national assembly in the 1990s, Zardari is disliked by many in the PPP and is expected to struggle to keep its three major factions together. His claim to control rests on Bhutto's will, in which she reportedly named her husband as her successor. He also comes to the job with significant baggage, including a reputation for lavish living on the taxpayer's dime.
Supporters dispute the image, saying he matured in prison and could be a serious political actor. "Most of the charges were never proven. The government filed a plethora of cases, and they dragged on for 11 years. He served more time awaiting trial than he would have gotten if he had been tried and convicted of any crimes," said Husain Haqqani, a Boston University professor whose wife is running for parliament on the PPP ticket.
Others note that Swiss authorities also indicted Zardari in 1998 for money laundering. "It may have been exaggerated, but the reputation is not inaccurate," said Frederic Grare of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Fahim also has no national following, a key reason Bhutto selected him to lead the party in her absence. Haqqani compared him to Gerald Ford, "meaning a mild consensus builder who moves cautiously." If he should become prime minister, other experts caution that he may be easily manipulated by Zardari or Musharraf and would not be a strong voice for a moderate center -- the U.S. goal for Pakistan.
Witte reported from Islamabad.
