Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Asif Ali Zardari was born on July 21, 1955, in Karachi, Pakistan. He is commonly known as the "10th President of Pakistan" and has been referred to by his nickname, "Mr. Ten Percent," due to allegations surrounding corruption during his presidency.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: July 21, 1955
Still alive
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: Pakistani
Profession(s): Politician, businessman
Early Life and Background
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Asif Ali Zardari was born into a prominent family in Karachi. His father, Hakim Ali Zardari, was a renowned politician from the Bhutto family's stronghold in Sindh. Asif's early life was marked by tragedy when his mother, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in 2007, while he was serving as President of Pakistan.
Growing up in a political environment had a profound impact on Asif Ali Zardari's life and career. He learned the intricacies of politics from an early age, watching his sister Benazir navigate the complexities of Pakistani politics.
Major Accomplishments
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During his tenure as President, Asif Ali Zardari faced numerous challenges, including a devastating earthquake in 2005 and the subsequent economic crisis. Despite these setbacks, he implemented several key policies to stabilize the economy and improve governance.
Some notable achievements include:
Stabilizing the Economy: Under Zardari's leadership, Pakistan's economy began to recover from the 2008 financial crisis.
Promoting Education: He launched initiatives aimed at improving education standards in rural areas and increasing access to quality education for disadvantaged communities.
Enhancing Women's Rights: Asif Ali Zardari was a strong advocate for women's rights, introducing policies that protected and empowered Pakistani women.Notable Works or Actions
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While serving as President, Asif Ali Zardari oversaw several significant developments:
The Kerry-Lugar Bill: Signed in 2009, this bill provided financial assistance to Pakistan while emphasizing the need for democratic reforms.
* Pakistan-US Relations: During his presidency, Zardari worked closely with the United States government on various initiatives, including counter-terrorism efforts.
Impact and Legacy
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Asif Ali Zardari's tenure as President had a lasting impact on Pakistani politics. His leadership helped stabilize the economy, promote education, and enhance women's rights. Despite controversy surrounding his presidency, he remains an influential figure in Pakistan's politics.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Asif Ali Zardari is widely quoted for his views on democracy, governance, and social justice. His leadership during a tumultuous period in Pakistani history earned him recognition both domestically and internationally.
Quotes by Asif Ali Zardari
The emphasis of my government is to take advantage from the Chinese experience in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, infrastructure, development, health and high efficiency irrigation.
If you will remember history correctly, even the Second World War was perpetrated by a stateless actor, by murdering the Prince Rudolf, if you remember. And so is the case with 9/11. It was a stateless actor which has made the world go to war.
As a child, I was spoilt by my parents as an only son. They indulged my every whim, and I grew up in luxury.
Not all political actors share our vision of fighting terrorism, lessening tensions in the region and focusing on building the economy. It is natural that they would challenge the government, but we have fought every challenge effectively. The daily ups and down of democracy should not be interpreted as lack of stability.
You must keep in mind that Pakistan has suffered the aftermaths of the Cold War, and that Cold War had left deep imprints on our society. We were the worst sufferers from the ills of the Afghan war.
As an independent person, I find it difficult being dependent for everything, for even my food and medicine, to the prison authorities. I have had to fight through the courts for everything, including even physiotherapy, which is my right under the jail manual.
After the assassination of my wife, our nation was perilously close to civil strife. If I, as the co-chairman of the Party, had asked my people to take to the streets, the very existence of the federation would have been threatened.
When my party won the elections convincingly on February 18th, 2008, we immediately reached out to other parties to form broad-based coalitions of national unity in the National Assembly and in the four provincial assemblies.
Pakistan has assured that it would not allow its territory to be used against India for any acts of terror. India must also reciprocate and address our concerns which are very genuine. Dialogue is the only way forward. Absence of dialogue leads to tension.
I have spent seven of the 12 years I have been married a victim of political persecution. I must be the first male spouse being held hostage by a regime. I accept this, as Pakistan has traditional elements who find it hard to reconcile with a man whose wife works and who other men salute perforce of her office.