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However, media managers in the presidency said he had met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, but did not visit any of the holy places in the country which was believed to be the main objective of the stopover.
“The president landed at the Bassel Al Assad International Airport for a technical stopover on his way back home from the United Kingdom,” presidential spokesman Sohail Ahmed said. How a technical stopover resulted in a presidential meeting remained unexplained.
Syria is visited by devoted Muslims for its many shrines. The famous shrine of Hazrat Bibi Zainab in Damascus, known as Zainabia, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people.
This is Mr Zardari's second visit to Syria since assuming the office of president. He was there for two days in January this year. Observers pointed out that he was under immense pressure at that time because the Supreme Court had scrapped the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which had provided immunity to politicians and bureaucrats involved in corruption cases from 1985 to 1999. A federal minister who accompanied the president had told Dawn that “Zardari Sahib has secured guarantee about his rule from Zainabia”.
This time around, the presidency is denying that the visit was for any religious reason and a senior official said Mr Zardari did not visit any of the holy places.
“He could not visit Damascus because his stopover was in Latakia,” the official said.
Nonetheless, President Zardari is known to believe in certain rituals. He sacrifices a black goat every day in the presidency to protect himself from hardships and evil influences.
An official announcement about the visit said “The president was warmly received by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, before the two leaders held a meeting at the airport and discussed bilateral, regional and international issues and matters of common interest.”
President Zardari briefed his Syrian counterpart on the flood situation in Pakistan and the casualties and losses caused by the calamity.
The spokesman said the Syrian president expressed grief over the destruction caused by the floods. He said the government and people of Syria stood with Pakistan and its people in this hour of trial.
He said Syria would not leave Pakistan alone at this critical hour and promised all possible help for the affected people.
“Pakistan and Syria enjoy historic and brotherly relations, with the two having ancient civilisational ties,” he said.
