Special report: Pakistani Situation

    By Li Zhongfa

    LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Latif, a 50-year-old Pakistani man living in eastern Pakistan, hardly sees any hope for improvement of his life as late Benazir Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari inches toward Pakistan's top office of presidency.

    "I don't think the situation in Pakistan will improve in the near future. You can prove if I am right a few months later," said Latif inhesitantly.

    Latif owns a snack shop and an old book stall in Wagha border, Pakistan-India border in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province, which have attracted a lot of tourists for its unique flag-lowering ceremony.

    "I don't know the other candidates, but I don't trust Zardari," Latif told Xinhua.

    Zardari, co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), is expected to win the presidential election held on Saturday as he has clear majority of support in the two houses of parliament and four provincial assemblies.

    Former President Pervez Musharraf has announced his resignation on Aug. 18 under the impeachment pressure from then coalition of the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    Zardari is challenged by former chief justice Saeed-uz-zaman Siddiqui picked by Sharif and Senator Mushahid Hussain in the election.

    "I don't care whoever becomes the president. I just tries my best to support my family," said Mazard Ali, a taxi driver in Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan and capital of the Punjab province.

    But Ali, who has eight children in his family, told Xinhua he is facing more pressure due to rising prices of daily necessities in recent months.

    The PPP won the most seats in the Feb. 18 general elections after defeating Musharraf's ally, and formed a new government with the PML-N.

    The economic situation, however, has deteriorated since the new government took office.

    The inflation had a record high of about 24 percent in July, the stock market plunged 40 percent since April this year and the Pakistan rupee has set record low against U.S. dollar.

    The economic turmoil and unstable situation have accumulated much anger among the ordinary Pakistanis.

    "The government did nothing for the problems, I don't know why," Latif said. "They just look in one-sided way, focusing on politics like presidency and judiciary."

    Latif is referring to the political rivalry between the PPP and the PML-N. The ruling coalition fell apart last month when Sharif pulled out due to their row over judiciary issue.

    But even if Zardari wins the presidential elections, there will still be a bumpy road ahead for the controversial politician to handle the rising militancy and economic problems.

    "There is already greater distrust of Mr. Zardari because what is alleged to have done in the past when his spouse was prime minister twice," said Rasul Bakhsh Rais, professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, told Xinhua.

    Zardari had spend 11 years in prison on corruption charges, which he said was "politically motivated". In 2007, Musharraf remitted all the accusations of Benazir Bhutto and Zardari.

    Besides, fighting terrorism remains a thorny issue for the government. Pakistan has seen increasing terrorist attacks after Musharraf resigned.

    The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani from the PPP survived a assassination attempt when two bullets hit the window of his vehicle on Wednesday. Zardari, for fear of possible militant attack, has shifted residence to the heavily-guarded Prime Minister 's house.

    "The Pakistani people will be affected very badly by the current situation in the country," said Rais. "The confidence in the elected parties and their leaders is likely to go down."