Senate polls: Zardari plays well despite illness.

ISLAMABAD -- The moment Asif Ali Zardari - known as the master of political make and break: landed in the playground, the Islamabad Senate seat seemed tilting towards the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

The Pakistan People's Party supremo played his role to turn the dream into reality but was not satisfied with the margin of the victory in the end.

'I believe, we should have taken 20-vote lead but we ended up with a lesser margin. You know better where the rest of the 15 votes went,' he said in a television statement after former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani defeated government's nominee Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

The former president was optimistic that his party will perform well if Prime Minister Imran Khan calls snap elections. Zardari, who himself needed a second ballot paper to cast his vote, proved once more that despite his illness, he was still a key player among the PDM alliance.

PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told The Nation that his father, Zardari, was an asset for the party and had always played a key role in the PPP's success.

'He (Zardari) alone is heavier than all the opponents. Imran Khan is no match. His days are over,' the PPP leader said.

Bilawal said Zardari's guidance was an important factor in Gilani's win against government's nominee Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. 'He (Zardari) is performing so well despite being ill. The government should know he is improving,' he said pointing to possible early elections.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari told The Nation that Zardari did not have many direct meetings due to his health but his role was key to Gilani's win.

'The people respect Asif Ali Zardari. The PDM defeated the government in the ground where they claim majority. Zardari showed Imran Khan the difference between a politician and a novice. It was a team efforts but Zardari...