#Review: Zaradari Presidency by Farhatullah Babar

Farhatullah Babar’s The Zardari Presidency: Now It Must Be Told is one of those books that immediately pulls you into the nerve centre of Pakistani politics. As someone who follows South Asian history and its endless power tussles, I found this memoir both riveting and, at times, overwhelming. Babar, being Zardari’s close aide and presidential spokesperson, gives us not just political anecdotes but the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that feels raw and almost cinematic. The night the 111 Brigade stormed the Presidency, for instance, reads like a thriller.

What I admired most was the balance between drama and analysis. The sections on the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Zardari’s handling of Memogate, and the Osama bin Laden raid provide invaluable insights into the paradox of a president who was mocked relentlessly yet outlasted everyone. It shows his resilience but also his dangerous pragmatism.

That said, the book occasionally feels too sympathetic. While Babar acknowledges Zardari’s flaws, the critique is not always sharp enough. Certain episodes—especially those involving corruption allegations—are skimmed over, leaving me wishing for a more unflinching account.

Still, the memoir succeeds in painting a layered portrait of Zardari: a political survivor, a grieving widower, a calculating strategist. It’s unputdownable if you’re curious about Pakistan’s turbulent democracy, even if you sometimes question whether you’re getting the whole truth. For me, it was an eye-opening, thought-provoking read—flawed, yes, but undeniably compelling.

Find this book here.