Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent
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Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto and leading contender to be President of Pakistan, was suffering from crippling psychiatric illnesses as recently as last year.
Mr Zardari, who chairs the Pakistan People’s Party jointly with his son Bilal, 19, experienced dementia, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The illnesses, diagnosed by two New York psychiatrists, were detailed in court documents used by Mr Zardari to delay attempts by the Pakistani Government to sue him for corruption in the English High Court.
They were said to stem from the trauma of 11 years spent in Pakistani prisons fighting corruption charges, when he says he was tortured.
In March 2007 Dr Philip Saltiel wrote that the detention had left Mr Zardari with severe “emotional instability, memory loss and concentration problems”, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.
“I do not see any improvement in these issues for at least a year,” he wrote. Dr Ste-phen Reich said that Mr Zardari was unable to recall the birthdays of his wife and children, was persistently apprehensive and had thought about suicide.
Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK and a long-time friend, said Mr Zardari had made a full recovery and sailed through recent medical tests.
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Well Pakistan has been ruled by dictators for 35 years and now will be ruled by a certified lunatic. What a choice? Does people party really cares about the will of nation. Common people of Pakistan will pay the price like always and at the end Zardari will enjoy his 60 million plus in Swiss account
Sohail Khattak, San Diego, California
What is important is if the story is correct.If it is,there can be legitimate questions about his fitness to become the first elected president of Pakistan in more than a decade?But then can a person becom so tremendously rich so quickly if he is suffering from serious mental problems?Any answers?
Afzal A. Neseem, Lincoln Nebraska, U.S.S.
This story released by western press at this time, when Asif Zardari is contesting Presidential Election in Pakistan proves malafid motives of western powers. It is nonsense.
Pakistan has been ruled directly for over 35 years by dictators and usurpers like Ghulam Muhammad under the direct influence of western powers. Political parties in their rule were always controlled by armed forces under direct backing of western powers. Now as dictatorship in Pakistan has been thrown out by democratic forces, civil society, and lawyers, western forces are again trying to control new government to act on their agenda. Pakistan now will defeat their efforts.
Abu Fawad, Karachi, Pakistan
This story released by western press at this time, when Asif Zardari is contesting Presidential Election in Pakistan proves malafid motives of western powers. It is nonsense.
Pakistan has been ruled directly for over 35 years by dictators and usurpers like Ghulam Muhammad under the direct influence of western powers. Political parties in their rule were always controlled by armed forces under direct backing of western powers. Now as dictatorship in Pakistan has been thrown out by democratic forces, civil society, and lawyers, western forces are again trying to control new government to act on their agenda. Pakistan now will defeat their efforts.
Abu Fawad, Karachi, Pakistan
Asif Ali Zadari cannot be ill. The powers that be and their foriegn collaborators used him to deal with the former so-called Pakistani dictator and now they want to that he is not fit to govern the Country. That is pure lie. Zdari must be allowed to go and disgrace himself in office.
Kenneth O. Iloanya, Awka, Nigeria