I had not thought that Pakistan’s reputation on the world’s stage could be brought much lower, but was checked when I came across a recent piece in the London Telegraph. A vigorous nation of 170 souls is being pilloried and mocked by the world in a fashion never before seen. Why? Because apparently, our President is a clown.

The Presidency of Pakistan is an office of the greatest prestige, an honour par excellénce - an equivalent office was held by the esteemed Quaid-e-Azam. Yet rather than remaining above the melee and enduring as a font of dignity and sobriety, it has become a circus ring with Mr. Zardari as moustachioed ringmaster.

Hysterics ensued when, in spite of the fact that clowns/puppets exist to amuse, Mr. Zardari cracked his whip in frustration and ‘decreed’ that laughing at him would be an imprisonable offense. For me, the most comical part of this farce is that being the social-democrat/ultra-liberal that he is (the new vice-President of 'Socialist International' no less), Mr. Zardari seems of the opinion, that like a tin-hat Caesar, his arbitrary decree will allow him to re-emerge Mandela-esque. Cue laughter.

With him at the helm, Pakistan’s national honour has been dragged through the filth at home and now abroad. As westerners are deluged by bad news, the petty western media, guided by sinister forces, is on the hunt. They are thrilled they can point to us and say “At least we don’t have it as bad as this - look at those poor buggers – and they have nuclear weapons too!”

For a puppet-master, a puppet is not amusing, just a thing to control. It is the audience who are meant to be amused. But apparently even the puppet-masters are now laughing at their latest creation. How could they not be? While millions are being displaced around Swat and the army is suffering casualties on the battlefield, Mr. Zardari walks around world capitals on begging expeditions wearing a manic grin.

But this jesting has a sober undercurrent. Our nation is in the crosshairs in more ways than one. The American-British press want to depict Pakistan as a banana-republic masquerading as a serious player on the world stage. After all, first they laughed, then they demonised, then finally, they started shooting. Drone attack anyone? For true patriots, this particular CIA-sponsored leadership is an extremely dangerous liability. We need new leadership – and now.

Mr. Zardari’s public image is now so sullied he has become a cartoonish caricature in the minds of the citizenry. A shepherd can survive the fear, the envy, even the anger of his flock - but not the contempt. Yet he remains? When will this nation wake up? Where are the street protests? Where are those damned lawyers now?

Being the Neocon-Zionist fortress that it is, The Telegraph printed a few jokes. Sure, they tickled me too, but we cannot laugh this man out of Quaid-e-Azams chair. It may take a little more than that. Time to get serious.