Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan. He is co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister.
Asif Ali Zardari (Urdu: آصف علی زرداری, Sindhi: آصف علي زرداري; born 26 July 1955)[2]is the 11th and current President of Pakistan. He is co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister.
A Sindhi from a landowning tribe of Baloch origin, Zardari rose to prominence after his marriage to Bhutto in 1987. Between 1993 and 1996, he held various cabinet positions in the second Bhutto administration.
He was arrested on charges of corruption in late 1996, following the collapse of the Bhutto government. Although incarcerated, he nominally served in Parliament after being elected to the National Assembly in 1990 and Senate in 1997. He was released from jail in 2004. He subsequently went into self-exile in Dubai, but returned in December 2007 afterBhutto's assassination. As the Co-Chairman of the PPP, he led his party to victory in the2008 general elections. He spearheaded a coalition that forced Musharraf to resign and was elected President on 6 September 2008.
As president, Zardari has been a consistently strong U.S. ally in the war in Afghanistan, despite prevalent public disapproval of the nation's involvement in the conflict. In late 2008, his government obtained a three-year multi-billion dollar loan package from the International Monetary Fund in an effort to steer the nation out of an economic crisis. In early 2009, his attempt to prevent the reinstatement of Supreme Court judges failed in the face of massive protests led by Nawaz Sharif, his chief political rival. The passage of the 18th Amendmentin 2010 reduced his vast presidential powers to that of a ceremonial figurehead.
President of Pakistan
Initial days
At the inauguration on 9 September 2008, Afghan President Hamid Karzai was a guest of honour, which was a signal for much closer cooperation between the two nations in addressing the tribal insurgency along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.[116][117] After the election, Zardari promised to approve the constitutional provision that removed the President's power to dismiss Parliament, but public scepticism remained on whether he would actually carry out his promise.[106] His economic competence was questioned after allegations that he had raised grain procurement prices through inflationary subsidies and scrapped the capital gains tax.[118] His first parliamentary speech was overshadowed by 20 September Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing.[119][120][121] A few days later, he went to theUnited Nations Headquarters in New York City on his first overseas trip as President
United Nations visit
See also: Pakistan and the United Nations
From 23 to 26 September 2008, he met with various foreign leaders, including U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao.[123][124][125] He suffered political embarrassment by flirting with U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and makingtongue-in-cheek comments about her.[126][127][128][129] Although, at the United Nations General Assembly, he publicly condemned U.S drone attacks in Pakistan,[130] theWashington Post reported that he had signed a "secret deal" when he met with senior American officials that arranged for the coordination of Predator strikes and a jointly approved list of prominent targets.[131][132] He and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to resume peace talks by the end of 2008.[133]
Economic crises
See also: Periods of stagflation in Pakistan
From 14 to 17 October 2008, he was in China[134][135] to negotiate foreign aid, as Pakistan faced the possibility of defaulting on its payments.[136] China refused to offer any aid commitments, but instead promised to provide assistance in the development of two nuclear power plants and more future business investments.[134][136]
After Saudi Arabia, Britain, China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates refused to provide any bailout,[137] he officially asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance in solving Pakistan's balance of payments problem on 22 October.[138]
He went to Saudi Arabia from 4 to 6 November in hopes of obtaining financial aid and securing trade agreements.[139][140] However,leaked cables revealed increasingly strained relations between Zardari and Saudi royalty, primarily because of Saudi distrust of Zardari and preference for Sharif.[141][142][143] Weaker cooperation led to decreased oil subsidies as part of a broader Saudi policy of withholding monetary assistance.[141][143]
In mid-November 2008, Zardari's government officially sent a letter of intent to the IMF regarding a bailout to help increase its foreign exchange reserves.[144] In a $11.3 billion multi-year loan package, Pakistan received a $7.4 billion loan for 2008–10.[145][146] The IMF stipulated stringent reform conditions, which included rebuilding the tax structure and privatising state enterprises.[146] The World Bankand Asian Development Bank withheld a combined $3 billion aid in the 2010–11 fiscal year and the IMF withheld since May 2010 the last segment of its aid package.[146]
In January 2011, the MQM withdrew from the government.[147][148] Zardari's ruling coalition averted a government collapse by accepting the opposition's economic proposals, which restored gas subsidies and abandoned many of the IMF's suggested reforms.[election 3][147]
In an effort to curb government expenditures, Zardari swore in an "austerity cabinet" in February 2011 which reduced the cabinet from 60 ministers to 22.[149]
Foreign policy
Relationship with India
See also: Indo-Pakistani relations
In early October 2008, he received fierce domestic criticism for repeatedly calling Kashmiri nationalists (see Kashmir conflict) in India "terrorists".[150][151] In mid-November 2008, he suggested Pakistan was ready for a no-first-use nuclear policy and called for closer economic ties.[144][152]
The relationship between the two nations was damaged by the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. He initially denied any links between the perpetrators and Pakistan,[153] but the government soon pursued military action against Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders in a 7 December raid.[154][155] India cleared Zardari's government of any direct involvement in the attacks, but simultaneously demanded the extradition of 20 Pakistanis which it alleged had taken part in them.[156] Zardari offered to send Inter-Services Intelligence Director-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha to assist in the investigation.[156]
In June 2009, Zardari met Singh for the first time since the Mumbai attacks at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit inYekaterinburg, Russia.[157]
On 8 April 2012, President Zardari, along with his son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, visited Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, India on a private visit. He also met with the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.[158][159]
War in Afghanistan
See also: Afghanistan–Pakistan relations
The government has had a longstanding conflict in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas(FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistani regions bordering Afghanistan. Diplomatic relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai improved after Musharraf's departure and Zardari's rise to power.[160] The Obama administration's AfPak policy, through AfPak envoyRichard Holbrooke, reflected the unified approach the United States took in dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan.[161]
In his first visit to Afghanistan as President in early January 2009, Zardari promised a renewed relationship to improve cooperation.[162][163] In late March, Obama announced a civilian aid package of $7.5 billion over five years in return for cooperation in the AfPak conflict.[164][165][166] In late April, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Zardari and promised $1 billion over the next four years.[167] In May, Obama held a trilateral summit in Washington D.C with Karzai and Zardari, where they discussed further cooperation.[168] At Brussels in mid-June, Zardari unsuccessfully sought trade concessions from theEuropean Union; it instead pledged $90 million development aid to curtail tribal influence by insurgents.[169][170][171] After the U.S. Congress passed Obama's civilian aid package in October,[172][173] army generals in the Pakistani military establishment widened the growing rift with Zardari's government and openly criticised U.S. interference.[174][175]
In February 2009, FATA's provincial government officially declared Islamic law in Swat to achieve a ceasefire with the northwestern Pashtun tribes.[176] Because the United States and Britain opposed the measure,[177][178] Zardari did not sign the Swat ceasefire until mid-April, when domestic pressure from Parliament mounted.[176] By the end of April, the agreement collapsed as the Pakistani military pursued an unpopular offensive in the neighbouring Dir district.[179][180]
In September 2010, Zardari and Karzai met in Islamabad and both advocated fighting insurgents rather than trying to end the war with diplomacy.[181] Zardari went to the United States in January 2011 to attend Special Envoy Holbrooke's funeral.[182] Following Osama bin Laden's death in a compound in Abbottabad in May 2011, Obama called Zardari and collaborated on the events.[183]
Reinstatement of the judiciary
In February 2009, Zardari and the Musharraf-appointed Supreme Court attempted to disqualify Nawaz Sharif from running in any elections[184] and tried to force his brotherShahbaz Sharif to resign as Chief Minister of Punjab province.[185][186][187] Zardari dismissed the Punjab provincial government[188] and only partially reinstated the judiciary by restoring 56 other judges deposed by Musharraf—but not their former leader, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.[189][190] After Nawaz Sharif defied house arrest and rallied with thousands of his supporters,[191] the Sharif brothers vowed to join forces with the Lawyers' Movement in the "Long March".[192][193] Zardari's government gave in to popular pressure[192] and Prime Minister Gilani in an early morning speech on 16 March 2009 promised to reinstate Chaudhry by 21 March.[194][195] Ten judges were reinstated on 16 March, and Chaudry assumed his position on 22 March.[196][197] Zardari's month-long direct control of the Punjab ended on 30 March.[164][197][198]
Nizam-e-Adl Regulation
In April 2009, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation into law. The regulation formally established Sharia law in the Malakand division.[199]
Reduction of presidential powers
In late November 2009, Zardari ceded to Prime Minister Gillani the chairmanship of the National Command Authority, Pakistan's nuclear arsenal oversight agency.[200][201]
In December 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Reconciliation Ordinance amnesty was unconstitutional, which cleared the way for the revival of corruption cases against Zardari.[202] Though Zardari had immunity from prosecution because he was President,[65] the end of NRO and his earlier corruption cases challenged the legality of his presidency.[203] Calls for his resignation escalated.[204][205] Zardari, who rarely left the Aiwan-e-Sadr presidential palace,[206] responded with a nationwide spurt of speeches in January 2011.[207] In January 2010, the Supreme Court ordered Pakistan's government to reopen Zardari's corruption charges in Switzerland.[208][209] However, Zardari prevented the MQM-leaning Attorney General, Anwar Mansoor, from filing charges,[210] so Mansoor resigned in protest in early April.[211] That same month, Zardari won a key victory against the judiciary over his corruption trials when Geneva Attorney General Daniel Zappelli stated that Zardari can not be prosecuted under international laws because of hispresidential immunity.[212][213] Zardari was supported by Prime Minister Gilani, who defied the Supreme Court order.[214]
In February 2010, Zardari sparked a standoff by attempting to appoint a Supreme Court candidate without the court's approval,[215] but the confrontation ended after he backed down and nominated a candidate acceptable by the court.[216]
In April 2010, after months of political pressure, the government passed the 18th Amendment, which reduced the President to a ceremonial figurehead by stripping the office of the power to dissolve Parliament, to dismiss the Prime Minister, and to appoint military chiefs.[217][218][219] The amendment also lifted the restriction of two terms as Prime Minister, which enabled Zardari's foremost political rival, Nawaz Sharif, to seek a third term.[217][218][220] The amendment was passed with virtually unanimous support in Parliament[219]and Zardari himself espoused the legislation because of political pressure.[218][220] After the 18th Amendment, Zardari's main power derived from his position as leader of the PPP, which controls the largest bloc in Parliament.[217][218]
In late September 2010, the Supreme Court considered removing presidential immunity.[221] In October, Chief Justice Chaudry met with his colleagues to discuss troubling media rumours that Zardari's government was planning to fire them; Chaudry requested government assurance that the stories were unfounded.[222] In early January 2011, Zardari signed the 19th Amendment, which lessened the likelihood of future clashes between the President and the judiciary by strengthening the power of the Chief Justice in deciding judicial appointments.[223][224]
In March 2011, Zardari delivered his annual parliamentary address to a half-empty chamber because of an opposition walkout.[225]
2010 Pakistan floods and Europe tour
The 2010 Pakistan floods began in late July with rain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and soon submerged a fifth of Pakistan and afflicted 20 million people, resulting in one of the nation's largest natural catastrophes. Simultaneously, British Prime Minister David Cameronsparked a serious diplomatic row with Pakistan during his visit to India[226] by stating that elements within Pakistan were promoting the "export of terror" a week before a planned visit by Zardari to Britain.[227][228][229] Zardari ignored domestic pressure[230][231] and began his European trip in Paris on 1 August, meeting French President Sarkozy.[228][232][233] In France, he drew a rebuke from the U.S. after stating that NATO had "lost the battle for hearts and minds" in the Afghan war.[234][235][236] As the flood's devastation became increasingly evident, he was widely criticised for flying in a helicopter to his Normandy chateau[237][238][239] and dining at Cameron'sChequers countryside home.[240][241][242] Protests within Britain, mainly among the British Pakistani community, grew against his visit.[243][244] The widely expected maiden speech by his son Bilawal was cancelled,[245] as Zardari faced criticism for using the trip to advance Bilawal's political aspirations.[246]
Zardari returned to Pakistan on 10 August.[247] He first visit to an area affected by the flooding was in Sukkur on 12 August.[247] He cancelled the 14 August Independence Day celebrations and instead visited Naushera.[248] He flew over devastated areas with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 15 August.[249] He left the country on 18 August and attended the four-way Russian summit at Sochi, which included Tajikistan and Afghanistan.[250] On 19 August, he visited Jampur with U.S. Senator John Kerry.[251][252] He ordered local authorities to concentrate efforts to save Shahdadkot from inundation on 24 August.[253]
2011 Dubai hospitalisation
In early December 2011 Zardari flew to Dubai undergoing medical tests and treatment, reportedly for a "small stroke".[254] According to the prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Zardari sought medical treatment outside of Pakistan because of "threats to his life".[255] He finds himself currently in the midst of the "Memogate" controversy.[255] Zardari left the hospital on 14 December to recuperate at the Persian Gulf, while his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, assumed a more prominent role in Pakistan.[256] By 19 December, Zardari had returned to Pakistan.[257]
Personal life
Family
Zardari and Benazir Bhutto had one son and two daughters. His son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is the current Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. His older daughter, Bakhtawar, was born on 25 January 1990,[258] and his younger daughter, Asifa, was born on 2 February 1993.[259] After Benazir Bhutto's death, his sister Faryal Talpur became the guardian of his children and he changed Bilawal Zardari's name to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He also has a second sister, Azra Peechoho.
Pakistani news media, including the nation's largest Urdu newspaper (from the Jang Group), reported that Zardari had married Tanveer Zamani in January 2011. Zardari and Zamani denied the rumours. Zardari threatened legal action against the Jang Group.
His father Hakim Ali Zardari died in May 2011. Zardari decided not to assume leadership (tumandari) of the Zardari tribe and instead crowned Bilawal as the tribe's chieftain.
Health
His mental health has been a subject of controversy. He has repeatedly claimed he was tortured while in prison. He was diagnosed with dementia, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder from 2005 to 2007, which helped influence the verdict of one of his corruption trials. He now claims he is completely healthy, with only high blood pressure and diabetes.
Zardari is said to have a belief in occult and superstitions. According to a report by the Dawn newspaper, "a black goat is slaughtered almost daily to ward off the 'evil eye' and protect President Zardari from 'black magic.' "It has been an old practice of Zardari to offerSadaqah (charity) of animal sacrifice and distribute meat to the poor. He has been doing this for a long time," the newspaper quoted the Pakistan president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar as saying.
Wealth
In 2005, Daily Pakistan reported he was the second richest man in Pakistan with an estimated net worth of $1.8 billion. He amassed great wealth while his wife was Prime Minister. In 2007, he received $60 million in his Swiss bank account through offshore companies under his name. He was reported to have estates in Surrey, West End of London, Normandy, Manhattan, andDubai, as well as a 16th century chateau in Normandy. In Britain, he used a common legal device—the purchase of property through nominees with no family link to the Bhuttos. His homes in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are called Bilawal House I,Bilawal House II, and Zardari House respectively.
Surrey estate
He bought a 365-acre (148-hectare) 20-bedroom luxury estate in Rockwood, Surrey in 1995 through a chain of firms, trusts, and offshore companies in 1994. The country home's refurbishment abruptly ended in October 1996, shortly before the end of his wife's second term. He initially denied for eight years that he owned the property and no one paid the bills for the work on the unoccupied mansion. Creditors forced a liquidation sale in 2004 and the Pakistani government claimed the proceeds because the home had been bought with money obtained through corruption.However, he stepped in to claim that he actually was the beneficial owner.[As of November 2008, the proceeds were in a liquidator bank account while a civil case continues.
The estate includes two farms, lodgings, staff accommodation, and a basement made into an imitation of a local pub. The manor has nine bedrooms and an indoor swimming pool.
He had sent large shipments from Karachi in the 1990s for the refurbishment of Surrey Palace.[45] He has faced allegations from various people, including the daughter of Laila Shahzada,[271] that he acquired stolen art to decorate the palace.[270] He earlier had plans for a helipad, a nine-hole golf course, and a polo pony paddock.[45]
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