Asif Zardari got married to Tanveer Zamani in Dubai

Source1 Source2 Source3

Asif Zardari got married to Tanveer Zamani according to Muslim Shiyat Bylaws in Dubai last week. The ceremony has not been held. However the marriage religious vows, paper work and prenuptials have been confirmed. Nine black goats, 6 cows and 1 camel was sacrificed at this sacred occasion. This happened 3 years after the assassination of Slain Bhutto. She is a Mediterranean descent American resident, and she lives in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York. Zamani is a practicing physician and known to be a Bhutto party loyalist. She earned PhD degree in International Politics from UK. She owns estates in London, Dubai, Islamabad and Manhattan. Zamani is a known Democrat and supported  Obama’s 2008 election campaign. She actively participated in Obama’s Health Care reform bill to make it a law. Recently, she has been prohibited to attend the public political meetings due to her security issues. Pres. Zardari in a meeting with Obama on 1/14/11 in DC, requested his help in acquiring security for Zamani.

Zardari is the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who twice served as Prime Minister of Pakistan. When his wife was assassinated in December 2007, he became the Chairman of the PPP. It has been claimed that Zardari is among the four richest men in Pakistan.  In the 1988 elections, Bhutto became Prime Minister, and Zardari became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Zardari’s opponents began using the nickname, “Mr 10%”, in reference to the charges of corruption against him. This nickname referred to kickbacks he was alleged to have received during his wife’s premiership. He served in Jail from 1990 -1993 and 1997-2004.

It has been noticed that with the advent of Zamani in his life for the last 8 months, he has been changed a lot. A lot has been blogged about them on the web. He seemed to find refuge in trusting her loyalty to him more than the party. The couple might have faced many domestic, social and political issues before they decided to turn this long distance, under cover- relationship  into a life time partnership. It is welcomed as a wise decision since it is according to their religious perquisites and he needs a loyal partner in his life who could support him spiritually, physically and financially at his worse times. To choose a life partner might be a difficult decision for him before meeting Zamani, but she made it an easy shot to play since she seems not someone who would marry him for his assets and power. Pres. Zardari made a good deal to marry an American citizen, since next time he would not go to a prison , he will be pulled out by her to Manhattan. It is presumed that the couple will be officially announced at the end of his political Presidency term. Obviously, not until after the next elections.
Will the party or Zardari loose a lot of popularity he cashed after the death of his ex- wife? Or Zamani will give him a new fame, name, and a life with the happiness that he never found in the last one. His children Bakhtawar , Bilawal and Aseefa  must understand the needs of their father who after taking care of their mother’s party has already proven his Loyalty to Bhuttos. Now, its their turn to let him move on with Zamani and spend in Manhattan a life he deserves.

Many media analyst are still trying to find an evidence before they jump into this leak. They wonder what is behind this marriage;  Love, political move or Wealth. The event was supposed to be an undisclosed sentinel secret, but it is released through a fashion designer company by a UAE news agency

The fact is none of the parties have denied this leaked news yet.

Land mafia : ‘Zardari and Gabol’s names used’

Tribune
Anti-Encroachment Cell arrests 30 land grabbers, registers 15 FIRs

KARACHI: When you use the president’s name, few people are willing to mess with you. That was the case with two notorious land grabbers, Lahoti Gabol and Ali Hassan Brohi, who have been arrested by the Anti-Encroachment Cell police. The men were also using MNA Nabeel Ahmed Gabol and Hakim Ali Zardari’s names.

“In the past, police and authorities failed to launch any action against the land mafia as they dropped names of top politicians,” explained Revenue DO Shaukat Jokhio while talking to The Express Tribune. The cell recovered 10,000 acres from Ali Hasan Brohi and 800 acres from Lahoti Gabol.

The Anti-Encroachment Cell of the revenue department has been busy. It has so far conducted 20 successful raids for the recovery of illegally occupied land, apprehended 30 alleged members of the land mafia and registered 15 FIRs. These cases would be heard in the special tribunals formed by the government for illegal land occupation.

For its part, the revenue department has so far recovered 2,800 acres from ‘land grabbers’ but 20,000 acres are still illegally occupied, Jokhio told The Express Tribune. “Land occupation on fake registrations of goths prevented any action.”

The cell has finalised its plan to free some pockets in Karachi’s suburbs during the next couple of weeks. This includes 1,200 acres in Surjani, 10,000 acres in Keamari and 2,500 acres in Bin Qasim Town.

According to another official, the mafia has encroached on parks and amenity plots in urban areas while barren public land is also occupied by them in the outskirts. He said the government has ordered that all the illegally occupied land has to be recovered as soon as possible and that President Zardari has directed that 50 acres of the recovered land be reserved for martyrs of the army, police and civil servants.

President, PM approve ‘decisive operation’ for Karachi

Dawm
President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani directed the Sindh government to act against those involved in the unrest with full force and without discrimination

KARACHI: Approving a ‘decisive operation’ against elements involved in targeted killings in Karachi, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have directed that peace must be restored in the city at all costs, DawnNews reported.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party’s senior leadership at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.

The meeting began Friday night and continued till the early hours of Saturday morning.

Key ministers and the party’s central leadership attended the meeting.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik briefed the meeting on Karachi’s law and order situation and the recent spate of targeted killings in the city and steps taken so far to restore normalcy.

President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani directed the Sindh government to act against those involved in the unrest with full force and without discrimination.

Moreover, Rehman Malik flew to London where he is expected to meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

Malik is expected to take Hussain into confidence over the government’s planned course of action

Qadri also remained guard of Zardari, Gilani, others

The News
ISLAMABAD: The self-confessed killer of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Malik Mumtaz Qadri, performed a total of 509 VIP and VVIP duties since he was declared a security risk for these tasks in 2004, a report compiled by intelligence agencies says.

The report says that he performed a security duty with a foreign delegation as well on two occasions in 2010. He also performed duties with almost all the prominent politicians several times including President Asif Ali Zardari. He also remained in the security convoy of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, even after he was declared unfit for these duties.

The other politicians with whom Qadri performed guard duties include Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. He performed all these security duties from April 24, 2008 to January 4, 2011.

He also remained with Interior Minister Rehman Malik as his special security guard in 2010, the report maintains. The report reveals that Qadri was also part of a raid team conducted by Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) against terrorist outfits in 2008.

The assassin of the Punjab governor performed duties with him as his personal security guard for four times - on April 15, 2010, May 26, 2010, September 3, 2010, and on January 4, 2011.

The report says Qadri also remained with Taseer on general duties on ten occasions - five times in 2008, once in 2009, three times in 2010 and once in 2011 when he killed him in the Kohsar Market in Islamabad.

The report, compiled by the intelligence agencies after Qadri gunned Taseer down and surrendered himself to be arrested by his colleagues, elaborate the guard duties he performed on a whole. He performed security duties with President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani and on PAF Base for four times in 2008, eight times in 2009 and six times in 2010.

‘Dirty hands’ behind Taseer’s murder will be exposed: Zardari

Daily-Times
LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called the widow of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer by telephone and expressed his sorrow and grief over his murder.

According to the party sources, President Zardari assured Amna Taseer that “the sacrifice of Salmaan Taseer would not go waste and justice would be provided to her family”. The president also paid tributes to Salmaan Taseer for his services for the party, sources added.

The president expressed the hope that the elements behind the crime would be exposed and punished according to law. He said Salmaan Taseer was an asset for the party and a true follower of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto in treading their path to martyrdom.

“Taseer’s courage and determination in espousing the cause of the marginalised sections of society and readiness to pay the highest price for it will continue to inspire many. Few possess the courage of Salmaan Taseer in standing up to bigots and fanatics, and fewer still the readiness to embrace martyrdom for it,” President Zardari said.

The president also prayed to God to grant Taseer a high place in heaven and asked the widow to convey his condolences to other members of her family. She thanked the president saying that his words were a source of great strength in this hour of tragedy, party sources said.

PM Gilani wins PML-Q support

Geo


LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani won the support of parliament's third largest party, PML-Q on condition of good governance, Geo News reported on Monday.

Talking to the media men after meeting PML-Q leadership, Prime Minister Gilani said PML-Q has supported me earlier and would not derail the system. 

Prime Minister said that PML-Q has always supported the government on national issues unconditionally, adding that Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain has assured that his party would not be part of any undemocratic step. He further said that PML-Q has assured for supporting him if no-confidence motion was filed.

He said Shujaat has convened party meeting tomorrow to discuss the issues.

PM urged politicians to support democracy and strengthen it.

Gilani said PML-Q has supported unconditionally while remaining in opposition. He said that PML-Q has always supported the government on issues of national interest.

Shujaat Hussain said that PML-Q is not against the Prime Minister, adding that it did not want to blackmail the government. He further said that his party wants to flourish the democracy.

He asked the PM to redress the grievance of masses.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Muttahida Qaumi Movement has only one issue i.e Sindh Home Minsiter Zulfiqr Mirza's statements, while the JUI-F was angry over the sacking of his minister.

President re-affirms confidence in PM

Geo


ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has telephoned Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and re-affirmed confidence in the latter, said a statement issued by Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar on Monday.

The President’s move came at a time when all kinds of speculations were circulating about a possible no-confidence move against the Prime Minister, particularly, after Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s joining of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate.

The President assured the Prime Minister of standing in support of the latter (in case of any move against him), saying in would be ensured that the PM completes his term, the statement said. 

PM Gilani was also assured that he had full support of Pakistan People’s Party.

Sharif attacks Zardari, Pak military

Hindustan Times
Pakistan former prime minister and chief of his own faction of the Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif, has warned that Balochistan was "going the same way as East Pakistan" because President Asif Ali Zardari-led government had entrusted the province to intelligence agencies. "No lessons have been learnt,"
Sharif said while addressing PML-N workers convention on the occasion of 104th Founding day of the Muslim League.

He said that the influence of the non-democratic forces in the country was strengthening owing to bad governance and corruption. Sharif asked government to constitute a committee comprising lawmakers to sort out Balochistan issue.

He also strongly criticised the ruling government and the Pakistani military in his speech. 

"Record levels of corruption can be seen in government. It seems that the only criteria for a high-level government appointment is bad character and a crooked past," he said, amidst slogans raised by supporters for a change in the country.

He said that government and its allies "were beneficiaries of a military dictatorship."  He also took credit for the restoration of the suspended judiciary in the country, including the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Sharif said that PML-N's support for democratic process must not be construed as backing for 'corrupt' government's survival. We will not be party of any puppetry, he asserted.

Sharif also took former president Pervez Musharraf to task for sabotaging the peace process with New Delhi.

Mirza to face music if MQM wants: Zardari

The-News


KARACHI: Progress has been made in a meeting between the PPP and the MQM leadership, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said while talking to media men outside the Bilawal House.

He said the MQM is with the government and shall remain with it and the government desires that the reservations of the Muttahida are removed. A meeting was held in which Malik and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad were also present. A similar meeting was also held on Tuesday.

In their presence, President Asif Ali Zardari had a telephonic conversation with MQM chief Altaf Hussain and this conversation was held in a very cordial atmosphere. Zardari holds Altaf Hussain in high esteem and Altaf also holds the president in high esteem, the minister said.

Malik said President Zardari has directed that all the reservations of the MQM should be addressed and should be resolved one by one. The ties between the Muttahida and the PPP are very strong, and will remain strong and grow further in the days to come, the minister said. He told the media men that everyone desires that Karachi remains peaceful

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari said that the reservations expressed by the government’s coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, were being addressed as the PPP’s policy of reconciliation and taking on board all stakeholders will continue as before.

The president also advised Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to convey this to everybody that they should strictly follow the party policy and ensure that no party leader and minister publicly criticised any of the coalition partners.

President Zardari, who chaired the meeting of the PPP ministers, advisers and MPAs of Sindh at the Bilawal House here on Wednesday, also held a separate meeting with the chief minister Sindh and advised the party ministers, legislators and leaders to refrain from issuing hostile statements against the coalition partners.

This was the first official reaction of President Zardari after the political turmoil started with the resignation of two federal ministers of the MQM. Sources said President Zardari assured the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad that the grievances of the MQM would be addressed, especially about the remarks passed by Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. He assured the Sindh governor that he wanted to end all misunderstandings of the MQM.

According to sources, the president said the statement of Zulfiqar Mirza against the MQM was in his personal capacity and if the MQM wanted action, it would be taken against him. Briefing journalists about the meeting, spokesperson to the president said Asif Ali Zardari also said that the PPP legislators and ministers should refrain from issuing hostile statements against the coalition partners. He expressed the hope that the misunderstanding between the coalition partners will soon be resolved.

The president said that general elections will be held on time after two years and asked the party legislators to be ready to face the voters when the time comes on the basis of their performance while in office.

The president called for a questionnaire to be sent to all MPs to answer questions about what each legislator had done for the people of his or her constituency, the bottlenecks encountered and the unfinished projects during the last three years.

Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza briefed the meeting about the law and order situation in the province, particularly in the rural areas, while Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo gave a briefing on the flood relief measures in Dadu and other districts.

The president directed the home minister to step up efforts aimed at improving the law and order situation in the province and to keep him posted about the progress made. He also directed the relevant agencies to provide APCs and helicopters to the Sindh Police on priority basis for improving the security in interior Sindh.

He said the APCs and helicopters should be used to cover all thanas in the Katcha areas of the province. Sources said the president asked every MPA and minister individually about the situation in their respective constituencies and development work and directed them to spend more time in their constituencies and remain in contact with the people.

Sources assured the MPAs and ministers who were perturbed by the political situation, especially after the MQM’s stand, that there was no threat to the government and the PPP would complete its five-year tenure.

Nawaz, Zardari just-like brothers: Imran

GEO TV

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday said that covertly Nawaz Sharif and President Zardari are just-like brothers.

Addressing party workers in Jhang Bazar, Imran Khan said if Nawaz Sharif really wants to bring a revolution he should start from himself. Just reciting a couplet of Jaalib won’t trigger any revolution, he added.

The TI Chief said the kind of amount Nawaz Sharif pays in tax, it would not be wrong to say that he should also be given a Watan Card.

He said the politicians should prepare themselves to face civil disobedience campaign if they failed to declare assets and pay taxes.

Imran Khan said he had submitted a petition against drone strikes. He urged the Chief Justice to declare drone attacks as extra-judicial and bring rulers before the court.

MQM sends resignations to President Zardari

SAMAA


KARACHI: The federal minister of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Tuesday dispatched their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to a statement issued here from MQM’s Center Nine Zero, Federal Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Farooq Sattar, and Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri sent their resignations to President Zardari through fax.

The statement said the party’s reservations still exist, adding, ‘The government neither took MQM into confidence nor did have any consultations with it.’

It should be mentioned here that MQM decided to sever ties with the federal cabinet yesterday night.

History will remember our services, says president

Tribune

KARACHI: 

President Asif Ali Zardari, in a public address here on Saturday, said the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) period of governance will be remembered for its service to people.

At the inauguration of Benazir Bhutto Apna Ghar housing scheme for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees here, he said:  “We have to live in history, while others want to live in tomorrow’s headlines.” He added that his government would create a better country than what it had received.

“We are turning their (Bhuttos) words into action and we are not merely raising slogans as we are not political actors. We are making and saving Pakistan,” he said.

He said he would monitor the performance of the prime minister, ministers and government officials.

The president said housing facilities will be provided to every Pakistani and workers will get ownership in government entities. He added that PIA would be regularised and their salaries will be increased.

President Zardari said he was only fulfilling his duty by giving rights to workers of OGDCL (Oil and Gas Development Company Limited), PIA, Civil Aviation Authority and other organisations.

He said those who martyred Benazir Bhutto, do not understand that the legacy of Zulfikar Bhutto lives on in every PPP worker.

The president said he realised that people were facing the problems of price hike and unemployment. “We will fight those who killed our countrymen, stabilise democracy and give rights to everybody,” he said, adding that nations face challenges in their history and Sri Lanka fought for 40 years to get through difficult times.

The president stressed that nobody should be allowed to impose their views through the gun barrel and dictate their brand of Islam.

President Zardari urged people to work hard by following the motto of Quaid-e-Azam and help achieve goals of ending terrorism and alleviating poverty and unemployment.

“We are the citizens of this soil and our forefathers lived here.  We have to save this land and secure the future of our children,” he said.

Zardari stopped Pak authorities from conducting autopsy on Benazir's body

SIFY

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan heard that President Asif Ali Zardari had stopped authorities from conducting an autopsy on Benazir Bhutto's body after she was shot dead at a rally during an election campaign on December 27, 2007.

On Wednesday the court had rejected bail applications of the former City Police Officer (CPO) of Rawalpindi Saud Aziz, and former SP of Rawal Town Khurram Shahzad who are charged of being allegedly involved in the Bhutto assassination case.

During the hearing of the case at Adiala Jail, the defence council reportedly presented an audio statement of Benazir Bhutto's husband through a laptop before the court in which Zardari said, "The post-mortem of Benazir's body would not be allowed."

The ATC dismissed bail pleas of Aziz and Shehzad and ordered FIA officials to arrest both because it believed that the duo lacked in their duties by failing to conduct an autopsy on her body.

Outside the court, Special Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar quoted the judge as saying: "This was their prime duty to carry out the post-mortem of Benazir's body after her assassination."

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would bring both the accused on Thursday to the court for taking their physical remand. The court has adjourned further hearing of the case till January 7 next year, the paper said.

The JIT submitted the complete challan of the Benazir Bhutto murder case on November 15 in which Aziz and Shahzad were accused of being responsible for security flaws.

Earlier this month, the ATC issued warrants for the arrest of both the officials for their failure in protecting Benazir Bhutto, but they got temporary bails on depositing surety bonds of Rs100, 000 each.

Sharif prepared for conditional support to PPP-led govt

We are ready to support the ruling PPP if President Zardari implements the CoD
Nawaz Sharif

Hindustan Times
Main opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said his party would be prepared to support the Pakistan People's Party-led government if President Asif Ali Zardari implemented the Charter of Democracy finalised by the two parties in 2006. "All is not lost and the fate of the people of Pakistan can still be ameliorated.

We are ready to support the ruling PPP if President Zardari implements the CoD," former premier Sharif said while talking to reporters here.

His remarks came in the wake of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's decision to pull out of the PPP-led coalition at the centre following the sacking of one of its ministers by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Sharif said he had written a letter to the President about fighting corruption and implementing the CoD but Zardari had not yet responded to it.

He said any meeting between him and the President on the sidelines of an official banquet for the visiting Chinese Premier in Islamabad on Saturday would be "futile" till such issues were addressed.

He also made it clear that the PML-N would not be part of any "unconstitutional and undemocratic" effort to topple the PPP-led government.

"Dictators go in for unconstitutional ways to oust democratic governments.

We will not prefer personal interests over national interests just to please some people," he said.

Sharif said it was regrettable that the PPP had agreed to form a truth commission for transparent accountability but had later presented a guard of honour to a dictator like former President Pervez Musharraf when he quit office in 2008.