'Zardari is cle-arly in a soup over court nominations.''

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has run into trouble again. The country’s supreme court has struck down an order issued by him appointing a judge to the apex court and another to the Lahore high court on the grounds that he did not consult the court as required to under the constitution. It appears that Zardari made his own recommendations after ignoring those made by SC Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. This is the second time in two months that the president has had a run-in with the apex court. In December, the SC threw out an amnesty granted by former president General Pervez Musharraf that protected Zardari and a host of politicians from allegations of corruption.

That decision opened the doors to possible prosecution of Zardari’s political allies. The latest standoff between the SC court and the presidency has triggered speculation on what Zardari might do next to impose his will. His predecessor imposed emergency in November 2007 and sacked dozens of SC judges, including the chief justice, a decision that marked the beginning of the end of his rule. It brought judges and lawyers out on the streets and triggered mass protests. Less than a year later, with the sword of impeachment hanging over his head Musharraf was forced to step down. Zardari could face a similar fate if he decides to impose emergency.

Zardari is in a soup. If it is proved that he did indeed violate the constitution in his recommendation of judges then the SC could disqualify him. It does seem that he has only two options before him — go on a collision course with the SC or do an about-turn on the issue of the judicial appointments. Either way, he will not come out of this crisis unscathed. Even if he does survive politically, he will emerge with his eroding credibility severely damaged.

Controversy-clouded Zardari has become a huge liability for the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). There are signs that the party is seeking to marginalise him. Initially Prime Minister Gilani was in the sidelines, overshadowed by Zardari. But increasingly he seems to be emerging from the shadows. The reported rift between the president and the prime minister is said to be serious. Whether the PPP stands by a sinking Zardari remains to be seen.