born july pakistani politician current served 11th president pakistan landowner rose prominence marriage gentleman wife elected prime minister government dismissed president widely criticized involvement corruption scandals led collapse reelected served minister second administration following increasing tensions brother killed police encounter september government dismissed month later president arrested indicted murder corruption charges incarcerated nominally served parliament elected senate released jail went self exile returned assassinated december new led party victory general elections spearheaded coalition forced military ruler resign elected president september acquitted criminal charges year president remained strong ally war afghanistan despite prevalent public disapproval united_states following incident nato attack domestically achieved passage eighteenth amendment reduced presidential powers attempt prevent supreme_court judges failed face massive protests led political rival restored supreme_court dismissed elected prime minister contempt refused write government switzerland reopen corruption cases tenure criticized nationwide floods growing terrorist violence following multiple bombings early dismissed provincial government end term recorded low approval ratings ranging heavily defeated general election country elected president complete constitutional term september led continues form provincial government early life education born july family origin belonging clan tribe son tribal chief prominent landowner youth enjoyed polo boxing led polo team known father owned famous cinema donated movie equipment school appeared movie child artist academic background remains question mark received primary education official biography says graduated went school clerk says failed final examination march claimed graduated bachelor education degree early 1970s official biography states attended britain british education confirmed search turn london issue diploma contentious rule required candidates parliament hold college degree rule overturned pakistan supreme_court april early political career initial political career unsuccessful lost election district council seat city family owned thousands acres farmland went real estate era marriage married december arranged marriage accordance pakistani culture initially considered unlikely match lavish sunset ceremony followed immense night celebrations included people marriage enhanced political position country older unmarried women deferred wife wishes agreeing stay politics general died plane crash months later pakistan female prime minister party won seats contested elections involvement imprisonment generally stayed wife administration associates corruption cases linked government largely blamed collapse administration dismissal government august prohibited leaving country security forces direction interim government august october prime minister rival initiated investigations corruption administration accused wife political position charge percent commission obtaining permission set project receive loans tagged nickname percent arrested october charges relating kidnapping charges alleged scheme involved tying supposed bomb british businessman leg family considered indictment politically motivated fabricated october elections elected jail staged inaugural session protest posted bail release blocked government ordinance removed court power release suspects tried terrorist court fast track trials alleged terrorists ordinance later revoked special court acquitted bank fraud conspiracy murder political opponents freed february march acquitted bank fraud charges corruption charges relating term dropped thrown courts march aboard flight demanded release demands killed political involvement second april cabinet ministers government succeeded government lasted july elections election served investment minister chief intelligence bureau head february sent meet iraq deliver medicine exchange detained arrested ambiguous kuwait iraq border april denied allegations wielding influence acting facto prime minister march appointed chairman new beginning second family feud mother surfaced political future son younger brother thanked support september seven died shootout police city undergoing year civil war funeral accused responsible vowed pursue prosecution widow accused killing president dismiss government seven weeks death suspected involvement pakistan leading newspapers alleged wanted brother law way activities head faction november government dismissed primarily corruption death arrested attempting flee country jail exile new_york_times report major report published january new_york_times detailing vast corruption public funds report discussed million pakistani partner billion contract french military contractor deal fell apart government dismissed contained details payments million gold dealer return monopoly gold imports information pakistani investigators family allegedly billion illicit profits virtually sphere government activity reported mid-1990s spending included hundreds thousands dollars spent jewellery arrangements family wealth relied western property companies western lawyers network western friends report described arranged secret contracts negotiations dismissal objected dealings fire private banking practices got trouble result report financial history case study report banking procedures second imprisonment conviction march elected senate jail december flown tight security oath july indicted corruption pakistan swiss government handed documents pakistani authorities relating money swiss indicted money time separate case indicted conspiracy murder criminal began closed account april convicted receiving swiss goods inspection company hired end corruption collection customs duties couple received fine million sentenced years imprisonment pakistan self imposed exile jail awaiting trial separate charges evidence gathered swiss investigators hospitalised alleged attempted suicide claimed murder attempt police august swiss judge convicted money sentenced months imprisonment fine addition required return million pakistani government conviction involved charges relating swiss firms exchange customs fraud france poland switzerland couple faced additional allegations november released bail court order month later unexpectedly arrested failing hearing murder case placed house arrest day later released bail release release regarded sign growing reconciliation government second release late left exile exile legal problems returned april police prevented holding rallies escorting airport home criticised government rumours reconciliation grew went june suffered heart attack treated spokesman stated underwent united_states september hearing corruption charges court issued arrest warrant lawyers stated come recovering treatment following request court issued red notice january couple called member nations decide couple announced september upcoming return pakistan husband new_york_city undergoing medical treatment october bombing return accused pakistani intelligence services attacks claimed accompanied staying daughters called removal chief investigator attacks claimed involved alleged torture prison november instituted emergency rule weeks pakistani state emergency pretext rising days departure meet immediately state emergency invoked returned pakistan stayed emergency rule initiated right supreme_court pakistan began legality proposal national reconciliation ordinance drop corruption charges return joint coalition govern pakistan feud supreme_court simultaneously criticised martial law supreme_court issue decision replaced members supporters midst exile different legal problems pakistan granted amnesty alleged offences national reconciliation ordinance drafted october ordinance faced mounting public pressure judiciary addition dealt charges left open possibility investigations alleged involvement million illegal discovered october oil food program ordinance rescinded deal charges relating duties armoured commissions polish tractor manufacturer gold dealer switzerland appealed swiss conviction required reopening case october november swiss authorities returned frozen million offshore companies national reconciliation ordinance spain criminal investigation opened money oil food program illicit profits handled spanish firms britain fighting civil case pakistani government proceeds sale surrey mansion successfully medical diagnosis postpone verdict british manor trial exile shifted homes new_york london children lived night december returned pakistan following wife assassination assassination succession prevented autopsy accordance islamic principles children attended funeral held day denied government allegations assassination sponsored called international inquiry death stated alive government provided adequate protection family offered accept demand body exchange united_nations inquiry rejected proposal political designated successor party leader nineteen year old son chairman favoured represent legacy avoid division party serve chairman years completed studies overseas february parliamentary elections coalition formation called delays january parliamentary elections participation opposition parties major political parties quickly agreed participate ending chance boycott turmoil assassination elections postponed weeks february january suggested party win majority form coalition leader party threatened national protests vote rigging attempted run parliament filed election papers november political ambition alive won largest second largest number seats respectively february elections agreed form coalition government ending american hopes power sharing deal agreed restore judiciary took stringent stance met ambassador pushed pact strengthen new coalition reached movement nationalist leaders elections weeks speculation party said want prime minister mid march chose prime minister politically powerful coalition government agreed march agreement known declaration april judges previously sacked deadline later extended held unsuccessful talks london coalition failed restore judiciary withdrew government mid pulling ministers cabinet coalition proposed constitutional amendment remove power president dismiss parliament late coalition set confrontation time government successful getting pakistan commonwealth met june discuss removal constitutional amendments viewed going far fulfill declaration opposed calls claimed coalition thirds majority legislative bodies senate unwilling restore judiciary divisions coalition grew popular sentiment shifted coalition criticised government barring competing june elections judiciary coalition address rising food shortages inflation highest years august relented coalition agreed proceed speed drafting charge sheet coalition charged high treason coup martial law warned dismissing parliament coalition selected instead represent pakistan beijing olympics august resigned order avoid favoured granting immunity prosecution coalition agree decision coalition reach united stance future judiciary rise presidency presidential elections held weeks departure vowed pursue unpopular campaign tribal pakistan support united_states claimed london business school degree satisfy presidency party produce certificate endorsed movement presidency nominated justice forth won majority votes elected president september president pakistan initial days inauguration september president guest honour signal closer cooperation nations addressing tribal afghanistan pakistan border election promised approve constitutional provision removed president power dismiss parliament public remained actually carry promise economic questioned allegations raised grain prices subsidies scrapped capital gains tax parliamentary speech overshadowed september bombing days later went new_york_city overseas trip president united_nations visit september met foreign leaders including president chinese president suffered political embarrassment flirting vice presidential candidate making tongue cheek comments publicly condemned attacks pakistan washington_post reported signed secret deal met senior american officials arranged coordination predator strikes jointly approved list prominent targets indian prime minister agreed resume peace talks end economic crises october china negotiate foreign aid pakistan faced possibility payments china refused offer aid commitments instead promised provide assistance development nuclear power plants future business investments saudi_arabia britain china united_states refused provide officially asked assistance solving pakistan balance payments problem october went saudi_arabia november hopes obtaining financial aid securing trade agreements leaked cables revealed increasingly strained relations royalty primarily distrust preference weaker cooperation led decreased oil subsidies broader policy monetary assistance mid november government officially sent letter intent help increase foreign exchange reserves billion multi year loan package pakistan received billion loan stipulated stringent reform conditions included rebuilding tax structure state enterprises withheld combined billion aid fiscal year withheld segment aid package january withdrew government ruling coalition government collapse accepting opposition economic proposals restored gas subsidies abandoned suggested reforms effort curb government expenditures swore cabinet february reduced cabinet ministers foreign policy relationship india early october received fierce domestic criticism repeatedly calling nationalists conflict india terrorists mid november suggested pakistan ready use nuclear policy called closer economic ties relationship nations damaged november mumbai attacks initially denied links perpetrators pakistan government soon pursued military action leaders december raid india cleared government direct involvement attacks simultaneously demanded alleged taken offered send intelligence director general assist investigation june met time mumbai attacks summit russia april president son visited india private visit met indian prime minister war afghanistan government longstanding conflict federally administered tribal areas pakistani regions bordering afghanistan diplomatic relations president improved departure rise power obama administration policy envoy reflected unified approach united_states took dealing afghanistan pakistan visit afghanistan president early january promised renewed relationship improve cooperation late march obama announced civilian aid package billion years return cooperation conflict late april british prime minister visited promised billion years obama held summit discussed cooperation brussels mid june unsuccessfully sought trade concessions european_union instead pledged million development aid tribal influence insurgents passed obama civilian aid package october army generals pakistani military establishment widened growing rift government openly criticised interference february provincial government officially declared islamic law achieve northwestern tribes united_states britain opposed measure sign mid april domestic pressure parliament mounted end april agreement collapsed pakistani military pursued unpopular offensive neighbouring september met advocated fighting insurgents trying end war diplomacy went united_states january attend funeral following death compound obama called collaborated events judiciary february appointed supreme_court attempted running elections tried force brother resign chief minister province dismissed provincial government partially reinstated judiciary restoring judges deposed leader chief justice defied house arrest rallied thousands supporters brothers vowed join forces long march government gave popular pressure prime minister early morning speech march promised march judges reinstated march assumed position march month long direct control ended march regulation april president signed regulation law regulation formally established law division reduction presidential powers late november ceded prime minister pakistan nuclear arsenal oversight agency december supreme_court ruled national reconciliation ordinance amnesty unconstitutional cleared way revival corruption cases immunity prosecution president end earlier corruption cases challenged legality presidency calls resignation escalated rarely left presidential palace responded nationwide speeches january january supreme_court ordered pakistan government reopen corruption charges switzerland prevented leaning attorney general filing charges resigned protest early april month won key victory judiciary corruption trials geneva attorney general stated prosecuted international laws presidential immunity supported prime minister defied supreme_court order february sparked attempting appoint supreme_court candidate court approval confrontation ended backed nominated candidate acceptable court april months political pressure government passed 18th amendment reduced president ceremonial stripping office power dissolve parliament dismiss prime minister appoint military chiefs amendment lifted restriction terms prime minister enabled foremost political rival seek term amendment passed virtually unanimous support parliament espoused legislation political pressure 18th amendment main power derived position leader controls largest parliament late september supreme_court considered removing presidential immunity october chief justice met colleagues discuss media rumours government planning fire requested government assurance stories early january signed 19th amendment likelihood future clashes president judiciary strengthening power chief justice deciding judicial appointments march delivered annual parliamentary address half chamber opposition november pakistan government response court orders finally wrote swiss authorities seeking reopen corruption cases swiss government responded saying corruption cases time barred reopened pakistan floods europe tour pakistan floods began late july rain soon submerged fifth pakistan afflicted million people resulting nation largest natural simultaneously british prime minister sparked diplomatic row pakistan visit india stating elements pakistan promoting export terror week planned visit britain ignored domestic pressure began european trip paris august meeting french president france drew stating nato lost battle hearts minds war flood devastation increasingly evident widely criticised flying helicopter normandy dining cameron countryside home protests britain mainly british pakistani community grew visit widely expected maiden speech son cancelled faced criticism trip advance political aspirations returned pakistan august visit area affected flooding august cancelled august independence day celebrations instead visited flew devastated areas united_nations secretary general august left country august attended way russian summit included afghanistan august visited senator ordered local authorities concentrate efforts save august early december flew undergoing medical tests treatment reportedly small stroke according prime minister sought medical treatment outside pakistan threats life finds currently midst controversy left hospital december son chairman assumed prominent role pakistan december returned pakistan personal life family son daughters son current chairman older daughter born january younger daughter born february death sister guardian children changed second sister pakistani news media including nation largest newspaper reported married january denied rumours threatened legal action father died decided assume leadership tribe instead crowned tribe health mental health subject controversy repeatedly claimed tortured prison diagnosed major disorder post traumatic stress disorder helped influence verdict corruption trials claims completely healthy high blood pressure diabetes said belief according report dawn newspaper black goat slaughtered daily ward evil eye protect president black magic old practice offer charity animal sacrifice distribute meat poor long time newspaper quoted pakistan president spokesman saying wealth reported second richest man pakistan estimated net worth billion amassed great wealth wife prime minister received million swiss bank account offshore companies reported estates surrey london normandy manhattan apartments 16th century normandy britain common legal device purchase property nominees family link homes called house respectively surrey estate bought acre bedroom luxury estate surrey chain firms offshore companies country home refurbishment abruptly ended october shortly end wife second term initially denied years owned property paid bills work mansion creditors forced sale pakistani government claimed proceeds home bought money obtained corruption stepped claim actually beneficial owner november proceeds bank account civil case continues estate includes farms staff accommodation basement imitation local pub manor indoor swimming pool sent large shipments 1990s refurbishment surrey palace faced allegations people including daughter acquired stolen art palace earlier plans hole golf course polo pony completion presidential tenure completed year term september elected president year long history pakistan received guard honour leaving attended party worker gathering residence according party workers settle politics succeeded works text exchange president address 63rd session partnership pakistan pakistan terror democracy greatest revenge pakistan
Asif Ali Zardari