Dubai/Islamabad, Dec 15 : President Asif Ali Zardari was on Wednesday discharged from a Dubai hospital where he was being treated for a heart condition and moved to his private residence in the emirate to recuperate, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has been discharged from hospital and moved to his residence in Dubai,” said a brief statement issued by Babar late tonight. Babar had earlier said Zardari would be discharged from hospital and shifted to his home tomorrow.
In Dubai, a senior Pakistan People's Party leader said:
“Following latest round of checkups, all of whom turned out to be normal, doctors agreed to discharge him on Thursday. However, it was later decided that he can be discharged this (Wednesday) evening.”
“President Zardari will rest in Dubai for some more time and continue the heart medication,” he added. Geo News channel reported that a sizeable number of PPP workers and a large police contingent were present at the American Hospital where he was admitted on December 6.
There was no official word on when Zardari was expected to return to Pakistan. Babar said earlier that Zardari will have to continue to rest at home.
Babar quoted a health bulletin from American Hospital as saying that the results of all investigations conducted on Zardari were “within normal range”.
The bulletin said the President had been advised to rest at home and to continue his “regular heart medications”.
Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah had said yesterday that the President would return to Pakistan in time for events to be held on December 27 to mark the death anniversary of his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto. Zardari's abrupt departure for Dubai on December 6 to seek treatment for what officials said was a previously diagnosed cardiovascular condition sparked speculation that he could be on the verge of resigning due to growing pressure on him from the powerful military.
PPP leaders have denied reports that Zardari had suffered a stroke and that he would step down. A close presidential aide told PTI today that the President will need several weeks to be fit and resume his duties.
The aide acknowledged that “immense pressure” on the President could be the reason for his condition. “Being a heart patient, the President was facing too much pressure. And eventually the pressure took its toll,” the aide said.
The latest health bulletin, dated December 13 and issued by physician Khaldoun Taha, gave the most detailed account yet of the health problems affecting Zardari at the time of his admission to American Hospital last week.
“Mr Asif Ali Zardari has been admitted to the American Hospital Dubai on Tuesday, December 6, 2011, with a chief complaint of left arm numbness and twitching with a transient episode of loss of consciousness that lasted for a few seconds, which was witnessed,” the bulletin said.
“Upon arrival to the hospital's Emergency Room, he was fully awake and conscious with stable vital signs,” it said. In view of Zardari's history of heart disease, the hospital conducted cardiac and neurologic investigations, including “MRI of the brain, lumbar puncture, 2-D echocardiogram, carotid Doppler and complete blood test”.
“All investigations were within normal range and (Zardari) was kept for observation for a few more days and is planned to be discharged on December 15, 2011 to rest at home as advised and to continue on his regular heart medications,” the bulletin said.
