Asif Ali Zardari Born 26 July 1955) is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Zardari is the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister.
A Balochi from a tribe based in Sindh, Zardari achieved prominence after his marriage to Benazir Bhutto in 1987. Zardari became widely known as "Mr. 10 Percent" during the premierships of Bhutto because of his alleged role in obtaining kickbacks as an intermediary in government deals. His political career has been mired by corruption allegations, for which he was in prison from 1990–1993 and 1996-2004. From 1993-1996, he served in various cabinet positions in the second Bhutto Administration. During this period, his extensive entanglement in the Bhutto family feud over the future leadership of the PPP led to his implication for orchestrating the sudden death of Murtaza Bhutto.
He was arrested in late 1996 following the collapse of the Bhutto government. Although incarcerated, he served in Parliament nominally after being elected to the National Assembly in 1990 and Senate in 1997. He was released from jail in 2004 amid rumors of reconciliation between Pervez Musharraf and the PPP. He subsequently went into self-exile in Dubai and returned in December 2007 after Bhutto's assassination. As the consequent Co-Chairman of the PPP, he successfully led his party through general elections in 2008. He spearheaded a coalition that forced Musharraf's resignation 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. He caused domestic rebuke in 2008 after flirting with Sarah Palin. In late 2008, his government signed a three-year multi-billion dollar loan package with the International Monetary Fund in efforts to steer the nation out of economic crisis. In early 2009, his attempt to prevent the reinstatement of Supreme Court judges failed after massive protests led by Nawaz Sharif, his chief political rival. The passage of the 18th Amendment in 2010 reduced his vast presidential powers to only a ceremonial figurehead. He again aroused widespread public uproar within Pakistan for his trip to Europe in the midst of the devastating 2010 floods across Pakistan.
Early life and education
Zardari was born on 26 July 1955 in Karachi, Sindh into the Zardari family. He is a Sindhi of Baloch origin.He is the son of Hakim Ali Zardari, who was chief of the Sindhi Zardari tribe and a prominent landowner, and Zarrin Zardari.In his youth, he enjoyed polo and boxing.He led a polo team known as the Zardari Four.His father owned Bambino— which was a famous movie theater in Karachi — and donated movie equipment to his school.Interestingly, Zardari's cinematic background is also exemplified by the fact that while still a young child, he acted a short scene in the 1969 Lollywood film Salgira.
Zardari's academic background remains a question.He received his primary education from Karachi Grammar School. His official biography says he graduated from Cadet College, Petaro in 1972.He went to St Patrick's High School, Karachi from 1973-74; a school clerk says he failed his final examination there.In March 2008, a PPP spokesman said Zardari had graduated from the London School of Economics and Business Studies.Zardari's official biography says he attended Pedinton School in Britain.His schools in Britain, however, have not been located.The issue about the authenticity of his diploma is contentious because of a 2002 rule which requires candidates for parliament to hold a college degree,but the rule was overturned by Pakistan's Supreme Court in April 2008.
Early political career
Zardari's initial political career was unsuccessful. In 1983, he lost an election for a district council seat in Nawabshah, a city north of Karachi where his family owned thousands of acres of farmland.He then went into real estate.Benazir Bhutto Era
Marriage to Bhutto
He married Benazir Bhutto on 18 December 1987.The arranged marriage, done in accordance with Pakistani culture, was considered initially an unlikely match.The lavish sunset ceremony in Karachi was followed by immense night celebrations that included over 100,000 people.The marriage enhanced Bhutto's political posture in a country where older unmarried women are frowned upon.Zardari deferred to his wife's wishes by agreeing to stay out of politics.In 1988, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash and a few months later Bhutto became Pakistan's first female prime minister after the 1988 elections.
