KARACHI, Dec 30: Asif Ali Zardari, husband of former premier Benazir Bhutto, left on Thursday night for Dubai to be with his family after over eight years.

His children, Bilawal and Bakhtawar, had left by an earlier flight, while he departed along with his youngest daughter, Asifa.

A large number of Pakistan People's Party leaders and activists thronged the Jinnah Terminal to see him off. "Finally, I am going to see my family. I am grateful to God," he told reporters. "I will welcome the new year with my family and the first thing I am going to do is to perform Umra with my family".

The 50-year-old PPP leader, who was arrested on November 5, 1996, in the Punjab Governor's House following the dismissal of the Benazir government by then President Farooq Leghari, was released on November 12.

Mr Zardari, who was initially detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), was first arrested in the Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case in November 1996, after the high court set aside his detention under MPO.

Later, he was charge-sheeted in the container case, Justice Nizam murder case, attempt to commit suicide case, Alam Baloch murder case, SGC reference, ARY Gold reference, tractor reference, Sajjad Ali murder case, Polo Ground reference and BMW reference.

Out of the 17 cases, Mr Zardari was acquitted in four and one of the cases was quashed. He was granted bail in rest of the cases before he was set free. Mr Zardari, represented by Shahadat Awan, was acquitted in two cases of attempt to suicide and in the Sajjad Hussain Shah murder case.

He was earlier scheduled to leave for Dubai a couple of days ago when the federal authorities removed his name from the Exit Control List and sent directions to the immigration authorities to let Mr Zardari proceed abroad.