A recent Pew Global Attitudes poll said just 32 per cent of the country had a favorable opinion of Zardari, down from 64 per cent a year ago. In the current poll, 79 per cent of people had a favorable opinion of opposition leader Sharif, while 67 per cent said they liked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Pew conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,254 adult Pakistanis in late May and early June, mostly in urban areas. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

In May, 72 per cent of those polled by the International Republican Institute said they disliked Zardari.

Zardari and the government led by his party have made little headway in tackling many of the daunting economic and social challenges facing the country.

‘Mr. Zardari has been a big disappointment and has failed to inspire confidence in the nation at one of the most crucial junctions of our history. We deserve better,’ said opposition lawmaker Sen. Mushahid Hussain . ‘In 2009, there is no stomach for serious change, but his presidency will start unraveling in 2010.’