ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari left for Dubai on a scheduled one-day trip on Thursday, local television stations reported, amid growing tension over a memo seeking US help in preventing a coup by the military.
The president’s trip comes during the worst tensions between Pakistan’s civilian government and the military since a coup in 1999.
Gulf-based Pakistani sources said Zardari would make the trip for a medical check-up. "This trip will be for a follow-up medical check-up and then he'll be returning right away," an associate of Zardari said.
However, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said Zardari had left Pakistan to attend a wedding in Dubai. No official confirmation of either story was available immediately.
Zardari went to Dubai for medical treatment last month, triggering speculation that a military take-over in the nuclear-armed South Asian nation was imminent. He returned home a couple of weeks later.
Tension has risen between the civilian government and the military, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half its 64-year history, since a memo emerged last October purportedly seeking US help to stave off a military coup.
The military warned on Wednesday of “grievous consequences"” over reported comments by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani accusing the military of acting unconstitutionally amid the "memogate" scandal.
Deepening the crisis, Gilani later sacked the country's top military bureaucrat for unspecified “gross misconduct and illegal action”.
A senior member of the PPP also warned on Wednesday that both sides appeared to be digging in their heels, although others have played down talk of an imminent showdown.
COMMENTS (37)
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Old news. He's already returned... surprisingly "according to plan"
ET wake up!
Hype should stop. he's already back; fresh news should be their on the front page.
@R S JOHAR: Son, you worry too much. Focus on your own!
@SAL:
Thanks for your comments. Please note that I am not praising Zardari or Gilani. May be the present govt. is corrupt. So is India's present govt. That is what our Annaji (Anna Hazare) is fighting against. I just wished to point out that even a badly administered and corrupt civilian govt. is preferable to other options like military rule. I have a gut feeling that there is going to be another military rule in Pakistan, in spite of denials by many. I'll be glad if I am proved to be wrong. Regarding importing Zardari to India, it could have been considered if India was not already full of people like him. Let the new year bring happiness and prosperity to South Asia !
@rk from NY: Get a life or borrow one, Mr. Pathetic Troll.
@Hairaan: you mean US taxpayer money...??? what else money does pak have...????
@A Ali: hahaha..medical treatment in pakistan.../?? really..?? you mean they return to pakistan to die..??? by a terror strike... what else is there in pak except terror..???
@kvsk: u can get our all politicians on loan
@A Ali: Very right but you missed one point. These Pakistanis spend from their pockets and this fellow is spending from our pockets.
Most Pakistanis in Dubai return to Pakistan for medical treatment... Very unusual trend is set by the President of Pakistan.
@shuja: good sense of humour!
This guy, Zardari.... He flies out to Dubai so often that the correct news title of this article should be - Zardari to visit Pakistan for a few days before going back to Dubai
Waste of taxpayer's money.
@Shamy: I don't have problem with my money spent on the medical expenses of my elected representative. I have strong reservations against spending that money on militants in the name of strategic depth, or lavish lifestyles and multiple plots for some state officials.
It is nauseating to read comments in support of a man whose government destroyed the economy and all public enterprises. Zardari government is solely responsible for mismanagement /corruption causing wide-spread electricity/gas/petrol shortages. While this is happening , his cronies are living it up. One senior minister says he does not know how 20/30 million rupees came into his account, he had to return it but is still the minister (read about NICL case) !!. This is the tip of corruption iceberg. Yes, please cheer for Zardari while country goes down the drain. Army did not force them to do corruption and provide worst governance in the history of Pakistan.
@Dr. Saifur Rehman: Really! How wonderful! And what about the billions and the property in France and America? Was all that the fee for statesmanship?
Why do we even bother having a president if during all times of crisis , (whether natural disasters, political distasters etc) , he flies off to foreign locales for personal issues.
@bhai: Guys on the top slot knows what they have done for the countary & they believe, not a single hospital match the worldclass treatments!!! so they all go out for treatment regardless of any affiliations-- Cheers
Motherland is in crisis and Mr. Zardari is flying...
Its only a checkup...surely he can get himself checked from good doctors in Pakistan....did he just use my money for his flight to Dubai ?
Zardari is a smart man.
@kvsk ... you are so wrong. We had democracy for last 3 years now , but we saw the country going down the road. Do remember that any form of government is for the betterment of people and it is not other way round. No government system is narrated from heavens which should be held esteem even if it ruins the nation ! . We can not even blame the present government, in a corrupt divided system only the corrupt will rule the country. For all your well wishes , you can import Zardari and his cronies to India to rule you for 3 years !!!
What I would like to know is who is paying for these visits to Dubai ? Its not an official visit so is the country footing the bill for these private excursions ?
Whatever the short comings of the present government, democracy is the only lasting solution to the Pakistanis' problems. I sincerely hope that during these days of anti-US and anti-India "moboria" (sorry, there is no such word in the dictionary, but I hope the meaning is clear), this basic fact does not get overlooked by the common man. Remember that it is this Gilani govt. that has taken tough stands even against the US, rightly or wrongly. At least, give the govt. some breathing space to govern ! kvsk with best wishes from India
No doubt he will be back.He is brave & honest to this nation.Great son of this soil.
He is Running away . not staying to see the show down ?
Good bye! Come back soon!
It so appears that the Pak President has suffered relapse of his previous ailment for which he went to Dubai for treatment. However, this time he would remain there much longer or live permanently in Dubai since Pakistan's weather is not conducive for his health and well being.
Lolz! What else could one have expected! He should been ECL listed. Basically it's a take over/dismissal delay tactics. Wonder if he remembered to sign those docs before departure, doesn't take more than a few seconds!
Regards.
Longlive zardari,