Islamabad/Washington: The US discounted rumours of a "silent coup' against embattled President Asif Ali Zardari, who abruptly left for Dubai over a heart ailment, and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday asserted Zardari did not want to leave the country. The president's family stressed he is expected to return soon.
Zardari flew out of Pakistan to Dubai on Tuesday, leading to much confusion and sparking rumours of a coup. The US, however, said there was no reason to believe the speculation over a possible coup.
Gilani stressed that Zardari did not want to leave Pakistan, but left it unclear as to what prompted the president to fly out.
Zardari's family assured that he is expected to return to Pakistan "once the results of his [medical] check-up are available in two to three days."
Gilani told the cabinet here that President Zardari did not want to leave the country for treatment and he was sent abroad after consultations, Geo News reported. The media report did not elaborate with whom the consultations took place.
The prime minister said Zardari went to Dubai for medical check-up and he is better now.
In the US, White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Wednesday that they had "seen the reports. We certainly wish him a speedy recovery", when asked to comment on media speculation that Zardari was contemplating resignation over "memogate."
Zardari had planned to address a joint session of Pakistan's parliament on a controversy over a memo to Washington that claimed he feared a military coup after the May 2 US commando operation that killed Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden deep inside Pakistan in Abbottabad town.
Zardari has been under tremendous pressure since the memo came to light. "No concerns and no reason to believe the speculation," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said when asked if the US was worried that a quiet coup was under way against the embattled president. "Our belief is that it's completely health-related," he said about Zardari's sudden dash to Dubai.
Zardari's family members attempted to clear the air by saying that the president will soon return home.
The president's sister Faryal Talpur was quoted by the Online news agency yesterday saying: "Zardari is in a stable condition after undergoing tests for a heart condition in Dubai and he is expected to return to Pakistan once the results of his check-up are available in two to three days,"
Asim Hussain, a doctor who has served as Zardari's personal physician, said: "His condition is stable. He has been kept in the ICU because a lot of visitors were coming to meet him."
Hussain said he expected Zardari to return to Pakistan by the weekend.
