Farhatullah Babar, former senator and spokesperson to President Asif Ali Zardari, has launched his revealing memoir titled Zardari Presidency – Now It Must Be Told at the Karachi Press Club. The 500-page book offers an insider’s account of Zardari’s time in office from 2008 to 2013, shedding light on key events that defined a turbulent era in Pakistan’s political history.
Babar stresses the memoir is not a biography but a detailed narrative of over 80 pivotal moments, including the discovery of Osama Bin Laden, intense civil-military clashes, the Memogate scandal, and the controversial Raymond Davis episode. The book uncovers strained relations between Zardari, the judiciary, and the military—highlighting moments like when troops surrounded the presidency to pressure the president.
Among the revelations are a draft charge sheet prepared for General Musharraf’s impeachment and covert diplomatic efforts such as a failed nuclear no-first-use proposal to India and secret talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Babar portrays Zardari as a resilient and often misunderstood leader, stating he was “sinned against far more than he sinned.”
Without seeking prior approval from Zardari or the PPP, Babar calls the memoir a historic duty, offering a rare firsthand perspective on a presidency marked by complex power struggles and political survival.