Zardari goes for 'direct public contact' to restore crushed image - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

In an effort to build up a national consensus against demands of his resignation and restore his image, which has been shattered by the reopening of corruption cases, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to go for direct public contact. "The President is already in Karachi as part of the first leg of his public contact drive. His visit to the Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi was also an expression of his resolve to go for direct public contact," Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said. Babar said Zardari would be staying in Karachi for the next three to four days and would inaugurate number of developmental projects in Sindh. Zardari is also expected to address a public gathering on the occasion of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's second death anniversary on December 27. "It is yet to be decided whether the President would address these gatherings in person or through satellite communication," Babar added. After returning from Karachi, Zardari would be addressing party workers meeting in the occupied Kashmir. "It is also not final whether or not the President would go to Kashmir in person.If he decides to visit Kashmir in person, he would be gracing certain inauguration ceremonies there as well," The Nation quoted Babar, as saying.