Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah claimed on Friday that President Asif Ali Zardari was returning to Karachi from Dubai within two to three days. He was speaking at a news conference after presiding over a meeting of the Sindh Council at the Chief Minister House. He regretted the media speculations and statements of political opponents regarding President Asif Ali Zardari’s illness. The chief minister said that members of the Sindh Council expressed confidence in leadership of President Zardari. On the occasion, the chief minister announced a public holiday in Sindh on December 27, the death anniversary of Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto. The PPP has decided to hold a large public gathering on Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary due to the current political situation, especially to counter former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s public meeting held in Ghotki last month and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif’s political show in Larkana scheduled for Saturday. “Participation of the people in death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto will be immense,” the chief minister remarked, adding that President Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and PPP Co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also participate in the even.
British HC to visit Zardari today: In a significant development in the backdrop of the controversy regarding the fate of President Asif Ali Zardari, British High Commissioner in Islamabad Adam Thomson is going to Dubai to meet the president. According to the diplomatic sources, the high commissioner will leave Islamabad for Dubai today (Saturday). The UK has become active to clear the confusion regarding President Zardari’s condition, the sources said.