Zardari aggressively sought control of the PPP, but he was the subject of ever-increasing criticism from opponents within and outside the party. Former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrested on corruption charges By Sophia Saifi and Bianca Britton , CNN Updated 3:07 PM EDT, Mon June 10, 2019 He was arrested in June 2019 by anticorruption officials in a separate money laundering case and released on bail on medical grounds in December. He returned to Pakistan with Bhutto’s resumption of political activity in 2007 and was given amnesty for his alleged offenses. Asif Ali Zardari is one of Pakistan's most controversial political figures who survived a series of personal and political setbacks to gain the presidency. He is the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who twice served as Prime Minister of Pakistan. The United States had expanded its use of drone strikes in Pakistan to target Pashtun militants who were waging a guerrilla campaign against international forces and the Afghan government in the Afghanistan War. ISLAMABAD: An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on Monday indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Park Lane and Thatta Water Supply cases. Asif Ali Zardari - Find Asif Ali Zardari latest News Headlines and breaking news today along with Photos and Videos at HindustanTimes.com. Ten Percent,” alleging he took kickbacks on large government contracts during Bhutto’s tenure in office). She said the arrest was politically motivated. FILE - In this June 10, 2019 file photo, former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari leaves the High Court building, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Sharif alleged that the court’s rulings were politically motivated and backed by Zardari. Following his release, Zardari sought medical treatment in the United States for psychological distress. The arrest was widely expected; Mr. Sharif, who has served as chief minister of Punjab Province, said last week that Mr. Khan, the prime minister, personally wanted to see him behind bars. But for us the biggest concern is his ailing health.”. The Murtaza-Zardari rivalry ended abruptly on September 20, 1996, when Murtaza was shot and killed by police. Asif Ali Zardari, (born July 26, 1955, Karachi, Pakistan), politician who served as president of Pakistan (2008–13) and de facto leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) following the assassination of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, on December 27, 2007. Mr. Ahmed said that the government had been increasing the pressure on opposition parties since Sept. 20, after a meeting of opposition groups that have called for, among other things, an end to military interference in the Pakistan’s politics. Before becoming president in 2008, Mr. Zardari spent 11 years in jail on corruption and murder charges. The toll exacted on Zardari’s health by his imprisonment was considerable. He was never convicted and has maintained his innocence, but allegations of corruption have followed him in his political career. Along with Zardari, 172 other people have been placed in the ECL including Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur and son Bilawal Zardari. Asif Ali Zardari Obituary. During the court hearing on Monday, a sister of Mr. Zardari, Faryal Talpur, and 13 other people were also indicted. Bhutto’s subsequent success at the polls ushered her into office as prime minister. Sharif and Zardari were not reconciled, however, and their sustained feuding ultimately caused Sharif to withdraw his party from the coalition. He served as president from 2008 to 2013, and is currently a member of Parliament. Following Bhutto’s death in December 2007, Zardari named his son, Bilawal, chairman of the PPP and made himself the party’s cochairman. Pervez Musharraf. In light of ongoing differences, including disputes over Musharraf’s successor, Sharif subsequently withdrew the PML-N from the governing coalition and indicated that his party would put forth its own candidate in the presidential elections…. Zardari was among the thousands of people affected by the ruling, which essentially reactivated cases against them. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He was married to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in 1987 who was Prime Minister of Pakistan twice (1988-90 and 1993-96). Former president Asif Ali Zardari had performed in a Pakistani movie in his childhood days, Geo News reported on Saturday. Asif Ali Zardari, husband of slain Pakistan's opposition leader Benazir Bhutto thanks supporters for their condolences at his house in Naudero near Larkana, Pakistan on … “But we are not bothered by such tactics.”. Indeed, in December 2009 the Pakistani Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional the 2007 amnesty protecting politicians accused of corruption. On December 18, 1987, the two were married in an arranged and relatively simple ceremony, and they went on to have three children: a son, Bilawal, and two daughters, Bakhtwar and Asifa. Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, another senior Pakistan Peoples Party figure, said in an interview that the indictment was a routine process in court proceedings and that the real issue was a lack of evidence. Broadsheet CEO Kaveh Mousavi accused on Saturday former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari of trying to bribe him. Asif Ali Zardari (Urdu, Sindhi: آصف علی زرداری) (born 26 July 1955) was the 11th President of Pakistan, serving from 2008-2013.Zardari, who is co-chairman of the PPP and serves the party with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, assumed office on September 9, 2008.He is also the widower of assasinated Pakistani former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. Arnold E. Schneider Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Western Michigan University. But critics say that Mr. Khan’s government, in collusion with Pakistan’s powerful military, is targeting the opposition in the guise of accountability. She was born on 25th January; 1990 becoming the first child born to a sitting female Prime Minister. Larkana [Pakistan], December 27 (ANI): Targeting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, former President Asif Ali Zardari has said that running a country is … Asif Ali Zardari (Urdu, Sindhi: آصف علی زرداری) (born 21 July 1956) is the president-elect of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). An unusually heavy monsoon season in 2010 led to unprecedented flooding (see Pakistan floods of 2010) affecting some one-fourth of the country and leaving about 14 million people homeless and millions more susceptible to malnutrition and disease. Mr. Zardari, 63, … Asif Ali Zardari, the former president of Pakistan, has been arrested in Islamabad over a money laundering case. The former president starred in … The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed forming a medical board to examine the health condition of former president Asif Ali Zardari who is seeking pre-arrest bail in Rs8 billion suspicious transaction case. Mr. Zardari and his sister denied the charges. In March the two parties formed a coalition government. Asif Ali Zardari leaving a courthouse in Islamabad, Pakistan, last year. Zardari continued to play a key role in the PPP in the years after his presidency. Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Former President Asif Ali Zardari have been invited by the US President-elect Joe Biden to … Ali Obituary is yet to be learnt by us, We are yet to confirm the deceased obituary. A lesser known fact about former president Asif Ali Zardari is that he has performed in a Pakistani film, Geo News reported Saturday. He is member of National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018. KARACHI: Former President Asif Ali Zardari has been discharged from hospital on Thursday night, ARY News reported, citing sources. He and other opposition politicians have accused the Khan government of political victimization. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Our deepest condolence and prayers are forward to the family of the deceased. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family {{familyColorButtonText(colorFamily.name)}} ISLAMABAD: PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari have not been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of … Asif Ali Zardari was born on July 25, 1955 in Karachi, to a prominent Baloch family from Nawabshah, Sindh. Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq was killed, ending more than a decade of military rule. According to Bilawal House spokesperson, the President Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari was shifted to hospital after feeling unwell late Sunday evening. After Bhutto’s return to power in 1993, he served as minister of the environment (1993–96) and federal minister for investment (1995–96) in her government. He left the country in 2015, however, amid tensions with the security establishment. Former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari is being questioned over a multi-million dollar money-laundering case. Zardari served as a member of the National Assembly from 1990 to 1993—during which time he was periodically released from prison to attend sessions—and from 1993 to 1996. Low approval ratings led to the PPP losing legislative elections in 2013, and Zardari declined to run for a second term as president as a result. “Where is the evidence?” he said. Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani politician and the former co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party. He served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, the first president born after Partition. Mr. Zardari received his secondary education at Cadet College Petaro. Zardari also faced daunting domestic issues. His presidency saw significant controversy but was the first to see out a … The former president starred in … Shortly after his return in late 2016, he announced his intention to contest the 2018 legislative elections, after which he entered the National Assembly as one of the leaders of the opposition. Zardari was born on 26 July 1955 in Karachi, Sindh in the Zardari family. During the campaign, Zardari pledged to restore Chief Justice Chaudhry within 30 days of his party forming a government, but once elected, he did not restore Chaudhry to his post or reinstate the pre-emergency constitution. Mr. Zardari is the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007. On September 6, 2008, Asif Ali Zardari, the candidate for the Pakistani Peoples Party, was elected president. In 2011 controversy erupted over the extrajudicial killing of Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab, for his criticism of a blasphemy law implemented decades before under Zia-ul-Haq. His betrothal to Bhutto, who was the daughter of former president (1971–73) and prime minister (1973–77) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and whom he had first met five days prior to the public announcement of their engagement, surprised many observers. He is also facing a raft of court cases. As a growing number of opposition figures were pursued on corruption charges, including Nawaz Sharif, Zardari himself was arrested in June 2019 on charges of money laundering. Mr. Sharif is the younger brother of the ousted prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for medical treatment. Browse 4,362 asif ali zardari stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The charges against Mr. Zardari are related to money laundering through suspicious bank accounts and companies. Following Zardari’s pre-arrest bail plea, the high court decided to form a medical board to review his health condition. Updates? Although never convicted, Zardari was imprisoned from 1997 to 2004; he was elected to the Senate from his jail cell during this time. When asked by court reporters for his comments on Monday’s indictment, Mr. Zardari replied with a verse in Urdu: “We have passed through such junctures earlier also.”. He rose to prominence after marrying Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, before she became prime minister. He further pursued his education in London where he studied Business. Critics say the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan is targeting the opposition in the guise of accountability. In addition, Zardari was deeply involved in a Bhutto family feud led by Bhutto’s brother, Murtaza, and mother, Nusrat; the conflict between Zardari and Murtaza over leadership of the Bhutto clan ruptured the PPP and destabilized Bhutto’s government. Omissions? In 2011 the United States located and killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad not far from Pakistan’s premier military academy, striking a blow to Pakistan’s image internationally for its failure to capture the al-Qaeda leader. Zardari, 63, the co … Zardari was implicated in Murtaza’s death, and, following the second dissolution of Bhutto’s government in November 1996, he was arrested on charges that included corruption, money laundering, and murder. “There is no evidence against Mr. Zardari.”, “He has spent several years in jail on trumped-up charges,” Mr. Ahmed added. Ms. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, was indicted on Monday in a money laundering case, the latest legal action against him and one that his supporters say is part of a wider trend against politicians opposed to Prime Minister Imran Khan. The former president has remained active in politics, and his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is the chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party. September 6, 2008 - Is elected president of Pakistan. Still, he became the first president in Pakistan’s history to serve a full term. A similar situation developed in October 2019 when former president Asif Ali Zardari was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi after his health deteriorated. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. DeadDeath will upload this post with the obituary details as soon as released. Marriyum Aurangzeb, spokeswoman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said on Monday that, “Shehbaz Sharif was arrested on the orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan.”. Faced with the prospect of a Sharif-led protest in the capital, in March 2009 the government agreed to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and a number of other Supreme Court judges who had not yet been returned to their posts (Sharif’s brother was also returned to his position shortly thereafter). Opposition parties have also warned of countrywide protests against the Khan government and the military next month. Zardari was heavily criticized for the government’s poor response, particularly when he embarked on a scheduled tour of Europe instead of attending to the relief efforts. It was a screenshot of a video conferencing call she had with her family- Asifa Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari. The move was seen as a political victory for Sharif and a significant concession on the part of Zardari, who is thought to have opposed Chaudhry’s return because of the possibility that the amnesty Zardari had enjoyed under Musharraf might be overturned. The couple had been married less than a year when Pres. Zardari easily won the September 2008 presidential elections. Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani political figure and present co-executive of Pakistan People’s Party. Meanwhile, the status of the Supreme Court judges dismissed under Musharraf who had yet to be reinstated—one of the issues that had undermined the Sharif-Zardari coalition—remained another major source of contention. Asif Ali Zardari, president of Pakistan (2008–13) and de facto leader of the Pakistan People’s Party since 2007. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Conflict within the coalition continued to escalate following Musharraf’s departure. In light of ongoing differences, including disputes... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He functioned as the eleventh President of Pakistan from the year 2008 till 2013. Arrested on kidnapping and extortion charges, Zardari was imprisoned in 1990, and, following his release in 1993, corruption allegations against him multiplied (some labeled him “Mr. It came after a high court rejected extending pre-arrest bail for him and his sister. Zardari—the son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a Sindhi landlord, businessman, and politician—was educated at Saint Patrick’s School in Karachi and later studied business in London. Zardari’s term was marked by increased U.S. involvement in Pakistan. 2020 Father’s Day ️ #virtual #family. Conflict within the coalition continued to escalate following Musharraf’s departure. Although disagreements destabilized the administration in the months following its formation, in August 2008 Zardari and Sharif led the movement to impeach Pres. To avoid further public embarrassment, Musharraf resigned his office. The case against Asif Ali Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is the latest in a string of moves against opposition figures that his supporters say are politically motivated. December 2007 - Following his wife's death, Zardari and his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, are named co-chairs of the Pakistan People's Party. December 2013. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Also on Monday, anticorruption officials arrested the leader of the opposition in Parliament, Shehbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, after a high court rejected his bail plea in a money laundering case in the eastern city of Lahore. Mr. Khan, who won the 2018 election on a strong anticorruption platform, denies the accusation. Asif Ali Zardari was born on 26 July 1955 to a Baloch family from Sindh province. Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari is the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar imposed a ban on sales and purchase of PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and owner of Omni Group Properties Anwar Majeed after citing the JIT report. He gained a reputation as a playboy and gadfly for his easygoing lifestyle; an avid polo player and an intense competitor, Zardari demonstrated little interest in the political scene. Ex-President of Pakistan Is Indicted on Money Laundering Charges. Larkana [Pakistan], December 27 (ANI): Targeting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, former President Asif Ali Zardari has said that running a country is not the same as managing a cricket team. “So, it’s nothing for him. Friction between the two rivals intensified further in early 2009, when the Supreme Court voted to disqualify Sharif’s brother from his position as chief minister of the Punjab and to uphold a ban prohibiting Sharif himself from holding political office (the ban stemmed from his 2000 hijacking conviction). In 1990 her tenure was cut short by corruption-related scandal, however, and both Zardari and his wife were the focus of attacks from opposition politicians as well as disgruntled members of the PPP, Bhutto’s own party. Here’s the photo she shared with her followers: View this post on Instagram. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In the parliamentary elections of February 2008, the PPP captured one-third of the available seats, while the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif won one-fourth of the seats. Asif Ali Zardari accused of laundering vast sums through suspect accounts and firms Published: 10 Jun 2019 . Author of. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Asif-Ali-Zardari, Global Security - Biography of Asif Zardari. An anti-corruption court in Pakistan on Monday indicted former president Asif Ali Zardari in the Park Lane and Thatta Water Supply cases. Pakistan ex-president Zardari held on money-laundering charges. The case against Asif Ali Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, is the latest in a string of moves against opposition figures that his supporters say are politically motivated. “These court cases are the usual tactics to intimidate and threaten the political leadership,” Mr. Ahmed said.