ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: President Asif Ali Zardari ended his silence on Friday to squash rumours about his ill health, incapacity and resignation.

Not only did he call the prime minister and speak to him while the latter was in a meeting with coalition partners, he also called journalists to give the news of his well-being and prove that he was not incapacitated.

A senior journalist that he spoke to told Dawn that contrary to news reports of his incoherence and impaired speech, the president sounded “his usual self and was in a good mood”.

“He laughed when asked about the speculation surrounding his illness,” said the journalist, adding that it was clear that the president was enjoying the media storm in a tea cup that his sudden departure had created.

The president also said that he left for Dubai as he did not trust hospitals in Pakistan and that he would be back “soon”.

When asked if there was any chance that he would resign, the president said firmly that he “was not the type to resign”.

The president called a private television anchor who was also told that he (the president) was feeling better and would return soon, while denying the rumours that he had run away.

The president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, confirmed that the president had called a couple of journalists and the prime minister.

The telephone calls belied the rumours doing the round that President Zardari was unable to speak because of health complications. The rumours have ranged from heart attack to a brain hemorrhage.

According to an official announcement, President Zardari telephoned the prime minister during his meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi at the Prime Minister House. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the party, was also present.

At the same time, Mr Gilani and his team worked hard to prove that it was business as usual as far as the government and the PPP were concerned and that there was  little to fear.

Not only did the premier hold a meeting with the leaders of PML-Q, but also former ambassador Husain Haqqani filed his reply to the Supreme Court in the memo case (see related story).

More significantly, the prime minister also held a one-on-one meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Asfaq Parvez Kayani.

Sources  said the meeting focused on the domestic political situation and the situation on the western border.

The COAS came straight from Kharian, where training exercises were being carried out.

CJ inquires about Zardari’s health: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry inquired about Mr Zardari’s health during a chat with former law minister Babar Awan in the presence of some journalists at the Supreme Court. He said the entire nation was praying for the president’s health.

Babar Awan said the president was now feeling better and that he had been shifted to a private room in the hospital.