Islamabad, Jul 15: Scotching rumours that President Asif Ali Zardari will remain abroad till the end of his term in September, a spokesman today said he would return to Pakistan “at all costs”.
Zardari has gone to Dubai, from where he will travel to London on a private visit, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
Babar strongly refuted rumours that Zardari will stay in London for the remaining period of his tenure. The “President will return to Pakistan at all costs”, he said.
Zardari also will not resign till the completion of his term, he said in a statement.
The presidency issued the statement following rumours and speculation in Islamabad that Zardari intended to stay abroad till his term ends in about six weeks in order to avoid possible graft charges.
The presidential spokesman further said Zardari will not contest elections for a second term.
Earlier this year, Zardari himself told the media that he would not contest the presidential polls after his term ends in September.
Zardari was elected for a five-year term in 2008, when his Pakistan People's Party was in power at the centre. The PPP was routed by the PML-N in the general election in May.
The presidential spokesman further said the government should publish the report of the Abbottabad Commission that probed Osama bin Laden's presence in Pakistan. The report should be presented in parliament for debate, he said.
The government should implement the recommendations made by the Abbottabad Commission, he said.
The commission submitted its report to the government in January though it is yet to be made public.
A draft of the report was recently leaked to Al-Jazeera.
