Pakistan: A look at Asif Ali Zardari
Born:
July 21, 1956, in Karachi.
BBC reports that Asif Ali Khan Zardari was born and bred in Karachi to Hakim Ali Zardari, head of one of the "lesser" Sindhi tribes, who chose the urban life over rustic surroundings. Asif grew up in Karachi and was educated at St Patrick's School - ironically also the alma mater of Pervez Musharraf. His father did relatively well, - the young Zardari's main claim to fame was that he had a private disco at home, helping him gain the reputation as a "playboy". When he married Benazir, the icon of the anti-establishment cause in Pakistan, he became "the designated fall guy", a close family friend says.
"Zardari knew this and accepted it. He walked into the marriage knowing it would always be about her, and never about him."
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Family:
His wife, Benazir Bhutto, was twice prime minister of Pakistan. She was
assassinated Dec. 27, 2008, while campaigning for re-election after 8
years of self-exile. Three children, a 19-year-old son, Bilawal, a
student at Oxford University, and two teenage daughters, Bakhtwar and
Asifa.
Politics:
Succeeded his late wife as head of the Pakistan People's Party.
Legal Woes:
Asif Ali Zardari was described by his wife, Benazir Bhutto, as "the Mandela of Pakistan." But while she was prime minister Mr. Zardari earned another nickname: "Mr. 10 Percent," for his reputation of demanding kickbacks on government contracts. He spent eight years in jail for alleged corruption, a charge he and his wife say was politically motivated.
NYTimes reports that Pakistani investigators accused her and Mr. Zardari of embezzling as much $1.5 billion from government accounts. British and American private investigators working for the government of her political rival Nawaz Sharif produced a thick volume of documents tracing what they said were multimillion-dollar kickbacks paid to the couple in return for the award of government contracts, and a web of bank accounts across the world that were used to hide the money. Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Zardari vehemently rejected the allegations, saying their accusers wanted to drive her from power.
While his wife went into exile, Mr. Zardari spent eight years in prison; his release by President Pervez Musharraf in 2004 was seen as an early sign in a possible alliance between Mr. Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto. When Ms. Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007, Mr. Zardari came with her. After she was assassinated at a political rally, it was Mr. Zardari who accompanied her casket in a procession to the family burial site.
Mr. Zardari led the Pakistan Peoples Party in the February 2008 elections, in which Mr. Musharraf's supporters won only 40 out of 272 seats. Days later, Mr. Zardari and Mr. Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, announced that they would join forces to create a coalition.
In August 2008, the coalition announced its intention to impeach Mr. Musharraf, who soon chose to resign instead.
On Aug. 22, 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party, the senior party in the coalition, nominated Mr. Zardari as its candidate in elections for president, now set for Sept. 6. — Aug. 22, 2008
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