Zardari due in NY for medical check-up

E-Paper | March 10, 2026

NEW YORK: Former president Asif Ali Zardari is expected to arrive here next week along with his son Bilawal, Chairman of the PPP, and younger daughter Aseefa on a private visit for a medical check-up.

According to local PPP leaders, Mr Zardari is waiting for his son and daughter to join him in London for flying to New York.

He has been living in Dubai for several months and, according to former interior minister Rehman Malik, who visited him there, was not feeling well.

Mr Zardari is also likely to discuss Pakistan’s political situation and preparations for the next general elections with party leaders during his stay in the United States.

While living in New York from 2005 to 2007, Mr Zardari reportedly underwent treatment for a heart ailment and stress disorder.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2016

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lalu pasrassad

Jan 16, 2016 07:44am

again some trouble in the belly. Dear Lord!

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goodhopes

Jan 16, 2016 09:49am

Topi drama publicity to gain sympathy

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Ali

Jan 16, 2016 09:52am

Its old code word medical checkup

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Teeli Pehelwan

Jan 16, 2016 09:52am

In out political parlance "Medical Check-up" either means "vacation" or "meeting super secret people for super secret plans".

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Sunil

Jan 16, 2016 09:59am

Does Pakistan lacks good doctors, for a medical checkup? Or Mr. Zardari does not trust?

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Awais Ali

Jan 16, 2016 10:04am

And where will people of Tharparker go for medical check up where he and his cronies are ruling from decades? Did anyone from PPP ever think about it?

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Tariq

Jan 16, 2016 10:08am

Why not go to Pakistan and see a heart surgeon there?

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Danish

Jan 16, 2016 10:24am

Respected commentators, we must not be so ruthless.On humanity ground we got to believe him and wish him good health.

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babarjann@gmail.com

Jan 16, 2016 10:50am

using our looted money our honorable ex president is having his medical checkup in US . Dubai ,UK has some good Hospitals but not up to zardari's standards … whats a scum..

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Whatacountry

Jan 16, 2016 11:12am

Not worth commenting on.

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tahir malik

Jan 16, 2016 11:12am

take a dying child from tharparker with you. do something in this life that gives u some measure of self respect.

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syed wasim haider

Jan 16, 2016 11:19am

We should believe him about his sickness.With so many differences on his policies we must pray for his good health.

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Skeptic

Jan 16, 2016 11:24am

Memory loss, again!? Does he even know how long he has suffered this affliction?

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Pakistani

Jan 16, 2016 11:30am

@Danish Kindly explain the humanity to the father of the 10 month old baby which died because of the circus of Bilawal Zardari. If that was not enough the officials of PPP were justifying the death of the 10 month old.....No wonder we deserve all what is happening around us.

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Imran ali

Jan 16, 2016 11:36am

at the expense of tax payer money..

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Faheem

Jan 16, 2016 11:37am

worlds best doctor are available in Pakistan.

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naji

Jan 16, 2016 11:41am

Annual Fee payment is due for 2016 to Lobbying company.

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gary

Jan 16, 2016 12:10pm

@Faheem But many patients visit India for their treatment every year from Pakistan.

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Aamir Ashraf

Jan 16, 2016 12:17pm

Wish him well but why havent our rulers developed medical facilities and hospitals in their own country?

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saad

Jan 16, 2016 12:18pm

No doctors in Dubai?

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Jan 16, 2016 12:49pm

@tahir malik spot on

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Jan 16, 2016 12:55pm

I think he is tired of hot weather in Dubai and need break to enjoy mild winter of NY. Why need family for his own checkup?

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LASHARI

Jan 16, 2016 12:57pm

@Aamir Ashraf : Mr. Zardari was Pakistan president from 2008- 2013, however it is foresightedness of our leaders not to develop medical facilities in Pakistan, so that they can avail health facilities ex Pakistan as being free and in their interest.

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Abu Hamza

Jan 16, 2016 01:03pm

I'm sure nation will be praying for him....

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SMI

Jan 16, 2016 01:06pm

Something else

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aamir

Jan 16, 2016 01:28pm

@Awais Ali This not only limit to Zardari, everyone have same preferential perks. See the life style of Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, feudal lords of Baluchistan Sindh, who of them came from middle class or lower class. No one. Our history is full of these examples right form the start. Any one came from lower cadre, either crushed in the very beginning or become monster later on. But still less lethal in their impacts compared to of elites'. Elites have art of concealing of their loot, while others are exposed poorly.

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raja

Jan 16, 2016 01:43pm

@Faheem if that was true thousands of Pakistanis would not go to western countries and even india for medical treatment!

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Corruption Remover

Jan 16, 2016 01:51pm

Gharrebo se vote laina hota hai tu he comes to Pakistan. But he goes abroad for his treatment lolz and fools keep electing leaders like him

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lafanga

Jan 16, 2016 02:04pm

Because we only come to pakistan when we have to loot otherwise we live our lives elsewhere.

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Ali Zaidi

Jan 16, 2016 02:07pm

Zardari sahab. Please don't come back. Believe me, you will not be missed by the Nation.

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Merchant

Jan 16, 2016 02:10pm

In PPP Encyclopaedia of Polictical Corruption the word "medical" means more conspiracy against one's own country. And Zardari leads the way!!!

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Dilectus

Jan 16, 2016 02:23pm

@aamir - Imran Khan belonged to a middle class family and his father was a civil servant. Check your facts before painting him as elite. Whatever he earned, earned through his hard work, not by looting Pakistan and making factories abroad.

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L.Ahmad

Jan 16, 2016 02:32pm

Very good medical facilities are available in UK but business related ailments do require a trip to NY.

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L.Ahmad

Jan 16, 2016 02:33pm

@Sunil Just like people of Pakistan don't trust Zardari.

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K.Shah

Jan 16, 2016 02:35pm

@Tariq What if there is power failure during the examination !

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Hamza Khan

Jan 16, 2016 02:42pm

@SMI Yes looking for some expensive real estate in NY.

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I2t

Jan 16, 2016 02:57pm

The king of sindh has not developed any hospitals is sindh where he can go for treatment. Sindhi subjects should kill themselves for having such a callous leader as their own.

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Justwasif

Jan 16, 2016 03:11pm

Its a family picnic party..

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Ali

Jan 16, 2016 03:13pm

Why not treat him in Karachi Jinnah hospital? Why generals, high officials and politicians go out for treatments? Why are they sacred cows? They take all the cash of poor widows orphans yet they don't get treated here? These Generals, high officials and politician s have not come from another planet. Why people don't held them accountable

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Nauman M

Jan 16, 2016 03:23pm

The Tahir Hospital in Rabwah, Pakistan is reputed to be the best in the country. He should go there.

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Conscious Sindhi

Jan 16, 2016 03:42pm

You should get admitted to Benazir Bhutto (notice how they like to name public funded projects after their own families unlike the west were you actually have to donate a building to be named after yourself) wing of Civil Hospital Karachi. Shamefully he did not build a facility were he could be checked himself. What can you expect from the worst exploiter of his own people.

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Rizwan

Jan 16, 2016 03:47pm

I think after making his speech of Eint say Eint baja do ga ,he is collecting Eint in NY

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Vikas

Jan 16, 2016 03:47pm

@Nauman M No certainly Its not good hospital as Ex president has chose to go to USA. One must look for improvement of Tahir hospital.

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Naeem Majid

Jan 16, 2016 03:56pm

@gary Why do you not pay for them to live a grand life in Dubia and jet fly the world on Pak tax money

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Mani

Jan 16, 2016 04:11pm

Stay there. You and your whole family. Please don't come back. We have suffered enough.

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M. asghar

Jan 16, 2016 04:22pm

At present, Mr. Zardari is no more a Pakistani citizen.

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SHAH

Jan 16, 2016 04:31pm

@Faheem But she is in NY;

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SHAH

Jan 16, 2016 04:32pm

@Abu Hamza Yeah Right ??

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gerry dcunha

Jan 16, 2016 04:41pm

In this world we all have to reap what we sore or in other words what goes around comes around - the death of a 10 month baby girl in Karachi of a poor labourer is very recent

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Naeem

Jan 16, 2016 04:47pm

O people of Pakistan are you so stupid that you can't see through these people. These people are supposed to be serving you, making your life easier, providing facilities for you, your children, thinking of the future generations. Instead they travel all over the world at your expense for holidays, medical treatments. If the medical facilities in Pakistan aren't good enough for these people then why are they good enough for other Pakistanis. O people of Pakistan rise and get rid of these people take control of your country. You deserve much much better than these people. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

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Merchant

Jan 16, 2016 04:54pm

Qaim Ali Shah should offer Zardari treatment in a hospital in Thar and let him experience what agony his electorate are going through.

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Ailly

Jan 16, 2016 05:01pm

he will remain outside on different check ups until he is cleared by Army to come back.

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A reader

Jan 16, 2016 05:08pm

Same old dodgy tactics are back......he is ill, in poor health and depressed. Why is he doing everything privately.....private jets, private hotels, private hospitals??? He was president of Pakistan....a welfare state?????

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Hamza Khan

Jan 16, 2016 05:22pm

@Sunil the entire subcontinent lacks good doctors. The rich go to Dubai and the really really rich go to Europe and US for medical checkups

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aslam shaikh

Jan 16, 2016 05:42pm

I wonder why he is afraid to fly alone

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aslam shaikh

Jan 16, 2016 05:43pm

Maybe now he will donate Billions of dollars to charity.

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M. Saeed Awan

Jan 16, 2016 06:13pm

May be TEETH problem since he forgot to smile after Dr. Asim's arrest.

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aamir

Jan 16, 2016 06:19pm

@Dilectus I could hardly find any example in middle or lower classes in Pakistan who were fortunate enough to get educated in Aitchison and Oxford. I think in our country who are not elite went to government schools especially in his time period.

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Iftikhar Husain

Jan 16, 2016 06:23pm

It is time that he should retire and relax.

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Mr M.Tariq

Jan 16, 2016 06:37pm

Mr Zardari is going to USA for hart programming with his son and daughter.

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Jan 16, 2016 06:38pm

I wish he never comes back to Pakistan for politics...tired of selfish leaders, who live outside Pakistan when in opposition, they go to US for medical purpose, their childen study at Oxford. They only visit to Pakistan when they have rule under their belt to make the poor, poorer, and to rule genrenations of the many generations. Pakistan get rid of the thugs.

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Khanm

Jan 16, 2016 06:44pm

What ever reason he may have..poor people are suffereing in Sind.kids sre dying in thar due to the lack of medical facility..can we send them aswell for medical check up

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Haris Riaz

Jan 16, 2016 06:48pm

Better stay out of Pakistan , because you are not required here.

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gerry dcunha

Jan 16, 2016 06:58pm

Naeem your comments makes sense, but how can one educate our people, they have been made blind,senseless and earless for almost 69 years

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MJK

Jan 16, 2016 07:05pm

Dubai, London, New York - expensive travel, expensive houses - where did all the money come from ?

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Yasir Matin

Jan 16, 2016 07:10pm

Send him to Tharparker hospital not NYC hospital, so that he can feel the pain of kids dieing over there.

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Syed(Australia)

Jan 16, 2016 07:44pm

Why not go to Pakistan and see a heart surgeon, thee are so many good surgeon in Military Hospital. As a Ex-Prsident he will get the best possible treatment and if recommended by our doctors he can then proceed to overseas for treatment.

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Ekram

Jan 16, 2016 08:55pm

Why? Is it because there are no good physicians in Pakistan?

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Arsalan

Jan 16, 2016 09:26pm

@Danish Love your naivete!

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Rick_james

Jan 16, 2016 09:37pm

So these politicians go to the US just for check-ups????? Shame on them.

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Mike London

Jan 16, 2016 09:37pm

Pakistani politicians are like nomads, they live in Midleast or England,work in Pakistan then get their business done in the West.

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ali

Jan 16, 2016 09:42pm

@Yasir Matin Thank you yasir i agree 100000% with you

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Kala Ingrez - کالا انگریز - काला अंग्रेज - কালো ইংরাজি

Jan 16, 2016 09:51pm

Lets hope it is not costing the Pakistani tax payers. Zardari must have his won private health plan or does he need one after looting and plundering the riches and Treasury of Pakistan?

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imran

Jan 16, 2016 10:41pm

Pathetic. Simply pathetic. They come to Pakistan only to loot and plunder and when they are out of power they go abroad to enjoy their ill gotten wealth. No wonder the people of Pakistan have no faith in these criminals.

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Nisar Ali

Jan 16, 2016 11:33pm

he is leader of PPP,party of people,the people who is blown up by terror attacks,poverty,hunger,lack of medical facility,shelter,food,water every thing.He cares about the public therefore going to NY for minor medical checkup.

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Ahmad

Jan 16, 2016 11:47pm

Get well soon sir. Our nation need your leadership.

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Something Fishy

Jan 17, 2016 12:15am

@Danish Did you read Awais Alis's comment? it is here again for you. Awais Ali - about 14 hours ago And where will people of Tharparker go for medical check up where he and his cronies are ruling from decades? Did anyone from PPP ever think about it?

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Khan

Jan 17, 2016 12:25am

Nice. Wish him good luck and speedy recovery. Please if you find sometime after returning back from your medical check up in New York, take a few minutes of your busy schedule and inquire about some kids dying in Thar which unfortunately is in Sindh Thanks a lot

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Muhammad

Jan 17, 2016 01:37am

He has proved this saying wrong. You befool some people at all times or befool all people at some times but you cannot befool all people at all times.

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Zak

Jan 17, 2016 02:28am

....while the children in Thar die daily, due to lack of basic facilities,minder PPP rule.

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Shakil USA

Jan 17, 2016 05:36am

Pakistan's civil administration or politicians are very corrupt. They live abroad and visit Pakistan on a vacation. They have palaces in Europe and Dubai. Mostly doctor's and surgeons are in USA from Pakistan or India. People's of Pakistan should think twice who elect when time come for election. We need to educate people's living in remote area's.

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Naeem

Jan 17, 2016 07:25am

Our leader have no shame. Tharparker is losing children and Zardari will spend millions in check up/ vacation.

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sukhera

Jan 18, 2016 04:57am

I hope he is spending his own money and not the public money. The doctors and the medications are the same every where you go. But these politicians don't trust our doctors and this notions that Doctors in US are better is totally false.

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aslam shaikh

Jan 18, 2016 11:44am

@aslam shaikh but he worked so hard to earn and even harder to inherit them

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