Capital abuzz with rumours over the president’s health

Islamabad was once again abuzz with rumours on Wednesday that President Asif Ali Zardari was resigning due to health issues. The announcement on Monday that the president had suddenly left for Dubai for medical check-up has already led to speculative news
that he might resign from his office.

A report that appeared in The Cable on Wednesday claimed that the president had a ‘minor heart attack’ on Monday, and that he flew to Dubai via air ambulance. This comes amid the announcement last week that the president would address the joint session of
parliament after Ashura.

While the Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Shazia Marri, who also happens to be the Sindh Information Minister, rebuffed the news of resignation, she said the president was in Dubai for routine medical check-up.

Other sources said that the president was in Dubai along with her sisters. Also, Mustafa Khokar who is the minister in charge of human rights, said that the president was not resigning contrary to the rumours and speculations.

He had a minor heart attack on Tuesday. He flew to Dubai where he had an angioplasty. He’s in good health now. He will come back tomorrow. There’s no question of any resignation,” Khokhar said on Wednesday.

On the other hand, state-run Pakistan Television said that the president was undergoing routine tests in Dubai, which was related to previously diagnosed “cardiovascular condition”.

The Wall Street Journal, citing president’s adviser Faranaz Ishfahani, said that it was a routine test. There were also reports in the mainstream media that the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani will shortly address the nation.

With speculations and rumours rife, there was no clarity on the matter yet as reports also suggested that the presidential spokesperson Faratullah Babar’s statement – that he was in Dubai for planned medical check up – contradicted with that of human rights’
minister that the president had ‘minor heart attack’.

However, things will become clearer in a day or two as the president is scheduled to address the parliament this month.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=5572

Posted by Sajjad Hussain on Dec 7 2011. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry