Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s president, has transferred control of the country’s nuclear weapons to the prime minister in an apparent move to blunt criticism of his excessive authority and head off demands for his resignation.
Passing chairmanship of the authority that oversees Pakistan’s nuclear weapons from the president to the prime minister makes little practical difference to Pakistan’s nuclear programme, which remains under the military’s control. But analysts say it is the first sign that Mr Zardari is willing to yield part of his authority.
