Asif Ali Zardari

Asif Ali Zardari son of Hakim Ali Zardari born in Jul 1954, He is Sindhi Baloch politician and one of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's early political associates. He is of Baloch origin, belonging to a Jat clan of the Sindhi-Baloch Zardari tribe. He is the only son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a tribal chief and prominent landowner, and Bilquis Sultana Zardari. He is also of partial Iraqi descent on his paternal side.

In his youth, he enjoyed polo and boxing. He led a polo team known as the Zardari Four. His father owned Bambino cinema in Karachi however, he donated movie equipment to his school. Asif Ali Zaradari also appeared in a movie, Salgirah, as a child artist. Zardari's academic background remains a question mark. He received his primary education from Karachi Grammar School. His official biography says that he graduated from Cadet College, Petaro in 1972. He went to St Patrick's High School, Karachi from 1973-74. In March 2008, he claimed he had graduated from London School of Business Studies with a bachelor of education degree in the early 1970s. Zardari's official biography states he also attended Pedinton School in Britain.

Zardari's initial political career was unsuccessful before marriage with Benazir Bhutto. In 1983, he lost an election for a district council seat in Nawabshah, where his family owned thousands of acres of farmland. He then went into real estate.

He married with Benazir Bhutto on 18 Dec1987. The lavish sunset ceremony in Karachi was followed by immense night celebrations that included over 100,000 people. The marriage enhanced Bhutto's political position in a country where older unmarried women are frowned upon. 

Asif Zardari and Benazir Bhutto had one son and two daughters. His son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is current Chairman of PPP. His older daughter, Bakhtawar born on 25 Jan 1990 and younger daughter, Aseefa born on 2 Feb 1993. After Benazir Bhutto's death, his sister Faryal Talpur became guardian of his children and he changed Bilawal Zardari's name to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash in 1988.  Later, Benazir Bhutto became Pakistan's first female PM, when her party won 94 of 207 seats during GE-1988. Asif Zardari also moved into the Prime Minister's House and his political career officially began. He became MNA in the elections held after the ouster of Benazir's government in 1990. In 1993, he became minister in the cabinet of caretaker Prime Minister Mir Balakh Sher Mazari, then in Benazir Bhutto's second term as a member of National Assembly and Minister for Environment and Investment. He also remained member of Senate from 1997- 1990.

From 1990 to 2004 (14 years) were the most tumultuous years of Asif Zardari's life. In the first term of Benazir Bhutto, he was made accused of corruption and an attempt was made to stick Mr. Ten Percent. He was first arrested in 1990 for plotting to embezzle 800,000 by planting a bomb on the leg of a British businessman namely Murtaza Bukhari during the reign of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan But he was later released. According to a report by the Auditor General of Pakistan, Ghulam Ishaq Khan filed 19 references of corruption against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari but none of them could be proved.

After removal of Benazir Bhutto’s 2^nd government on 5 Nov 1996, Asif Zardari was named in the Murtaza Bhutto assassination case. In the second term of Nawaz Sharif's government, he was made accused for murdering former chairman of Steel Mill Sajjad Hussain and a Sindh High Court judge Justice Nizam Ahmed and his involvement in drug trafficking. Several cases were registered against him including gold imports, purchase of helicopters, purchase of Polish tractors and commissioning of French Mirage deals, purchase of Rockwood Estate in UK, money laundering through Swiss banks and such document were also released which showed that Asif Ali Zardari bought several thousand acres of valuable agricultural and commercial land in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Karachi, took shares in six sugar mills. Nine in UK, nine in US, two in Belgium and France, and several projects in Dubai under different names. During this time, he spent almost ten years in prison and was released in 2004 after being acquitted of all charges.

Prosecution against him and Asif Zardari slowed down after reconciliation between Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto with the efforts of the America, Britain and some influential friends. The Provisional Constitutional Ordnance (introduced in October 2007), also played a key role in reconciliation and return of Benazir Bhutto & Asif Zardari. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on 27 Dec, 2007, PPP led by Asif Ali Zardari emerged as the largest party in the elections. Initially, the assumption was that Asif Zardari would focus only on the party leadership and become "Mr. Sonia Gandhi". But then he decided to become president. In August 2008, Altaf Hussain nominated Zardari for the post of President of Pakistan, after which PPP formally nominated him for presidential election held on 6 September 2008.

Usually, the president nominees resign from the political party, but Zardari did not do so and remained an active leader of PPP. According to some observers, this was possible because despite the tradition, there is no doubt that constitution of Pakistan is non-political.  Lahore High Court finally advised Zardari that it is not appropriate to hold a political office while in the spirit of the constitution. The ruling refrained from issuing any order. Zardari split from the party leadership for fear of a court decision just before 2013 elections. Zardari completed his five-year term on 8 Sep 2013, becoming the first democratically elected President in the 66 years history of Pakistan to complete his tenure.

He received a guard of honour while leaving the Aiwan-e-Sadr. He was succeeded by Mamnoon Hussain as President. During GE-2018, he contested from NA-213 (Shaheed Benazirabad-I) and became MNA.