A fresh confrontation may erupt between the ruling PPP and Pervez Musharraf, who has strongly disapproved party chief Asif Ali Zardari describing the President as a "relic of the past", Pakistani media speculated on Saturday.During an interview with, Zardari had described Musharraf as a "relic of the past" who was standing between the people of Pakistan and democracy.He had also made it clear that a package of constitutional reforms being framed by the PPP-led government would clip the President's sweeping powers, including those under Article 58 (2b).Following Zardari's comments, Pakistani media had reported on Friday, quoting sources close to Musharraf, that the President has directed his close aides not to hold any more informal talks with the PPP.In its editorial, the Dawn on Saturday said that Zardari's latest statement has sent shockwaves through political circles and exacerbated the sense of uncertainty and anxiety in the country. It added that the remarks have raised "the prospects of a fresh confrontation in the nation".Similarly, the Daily Times said that the latest opinion expressed by Zardari about President Musharraf "marksa significant turn in national politics"."From the stance that 'we can live with President Musharraf' to his being 'a relic of the past' is a journey that is not without its ups and downs. And somewhere in the foundation of any possible equation, there is President Musharraf's unremitting ambivalence that has come back to haunt us," it said.The newspaper added: "The latest remark by Mr Zardari may not assuage the misgivings of the lawyers' movement but it will certainly have a salutary effect on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz."
