ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari would return to the country next week, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Hasan rebuffed speculations that the Pakistani military was trying to sideline the president.

He blamed the media for “irresponsible reporting regarding the president’s health issues”.

He said “so-called analysts and intellectuals have been giving deadlines for the past four years regarding the removal of Asif Zardari from the Presidency, but they have failed in their predictions”.