Collapse of pact jeopardizes Zardari's Presidential tenure - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The collapse of a pact granting immunity from corruption charges to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has abruptly weakened his chances of becoming the first civilian leader in country's 62-year history to finish a term in office. However, Zardari fired back at his critics at a political rally in Karachi, marking the 42nd anniversary of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and said: "To those who are trying to bring down this government, I will say that all your efforts will be in vain." The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which was signed in October 2007 by then- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari's wife, has turned out to be a nightmare in disguise when Zardari asked the Parliament to enact the decree into law. The opposition, led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, responded with a full-fledged campaign against it, forcing Zardari to back down this week. The agreement had granted more than 8,000 Government bureaucrats and politicians, including Zardari and many others from his party, immunity from a host of corruption and criminal charges.