Wednesday 7 December 2011

Pakistan's Zardari in hospital 'for heart condition'


File photo of President Asif Ali Zardari in November 2010President Zardari leads a government that has been under intense pressure in recent weeks

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Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is being treated in Dubai for a heart condition, his spokesman has said, dismissing reports that he may resign.
A presidential spokesman said that Mr Zardari was undergoing "medical tests and check-ups as planned".
But his departure has fuelled speculation in the Pakistani media that he may be on the verge of resigning.
A controversial political figure, he came to power after his Pakistan People's party won polls in 2008.
The party had been led by his wife, former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007.
"President Asif Ali Zardari is in a Dubai hospital for medical tests and checkup as planned," presidential aide Farhatullah Babar told Reuters news agency.
"Reports in some sections of the media speculating on the president's activities and engagements are speculative, imaginary and untrue," he added.
He said that the president will return to Pakistan soon.
The Pakistani civilian government has been under pressure in recent weeks after a scandal, which resulted in the resignation of Pakistan's envoy to the US, over a leaked memo in which officials allegedly sought US help against a possible military coup.
Unnamed close associates of the president are by quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying that he is currently "unwell".
But there has been rampant speculation in the Pakistani media that he may be about to resign on the pretext of "ill health" in the wake of the memo scandal.
The president's spokesman said on Tuesday that part of the purpose of the trip to Dubai was to visit his children, but that he would undergo some medical tests there. He was accompanied by his physician and some personal staff, the aide said.
President Zardari has been at the helm during a torrid year for Pakistan, say correspondents, which has seen relations with the US deteriorate sharply after the raid which killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.
Since then, several senior US officials have accused Pakistan of backing militant groups that carry out attacks against Western and Afghan troops across the border in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has vehemently denied such allegations.

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