Asif Ali Zardari turns 61 today

His son and current Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has extended birthday wishes to his father by posting a picture on Instagram.

Happy birthday to my loving father.

A photo posted by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@bbhuttozardari) on Jul 25, 2016 at 2:46pm PDT

Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also felicitated their father on his birthday occasion.

Patience with every allegation @AAliZardari rather be criticised by today’s media & vindicated by history. Happy Bday to the bravest ❤️ #61 — Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 25, 2016

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Happy birthday baba @AAliZardari ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/rnf8wLCCXC

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) July 25, 2016

Party leaders and workers sent flowers and gifts to the party’s co-chairperson on the occasion.

Early life and political career: 

Asif Ali Zardari was born in Karachi to Hakim Ali Zardari on 26th July, 1955. He acquired his early education from St. Patrick’s School and completed his intermediate from Cadet College Petaro in Dadu.

The PPP co-chairperson completed his higher education from Citizen’s School of Economics and Business.

He rose to prominence in Pakistan after tying the knot with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

After PPP won the 1988 general elections, Zardari became the First Gentleman of Pakistan after his wife was elected the premier of the country. However, PPP’s government was dissolved by former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan in August 1990.

Benazir was re-elected as prime minister in the 1993 polls. Zardari served as the federal investment minister and chairman of Pakistan Environmental Protection Council during Benazir’s second tenure. However, ex-president Farooq Leghari dismissed Benazir’s government in November 1996.

Following the ousting of Benazir for the second time, Zardari was charged in various corruption cases and the murder of his wife’s brother, Murtaza Bhutto.

Zardari had to spend several years in jail and exile. However, charges against him were never proven.

With PPP set to win the 2008 general elections, Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack while leaving Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh after addressing a rally on 27th December, 2007. After her death Asif Ali Zardari returned to Pakistan from abroad and taken the charge of  the People’s Party.

He was elected the 11th president of Pakistan after than President Pervez Musharraf relinquished the charge of the top office under the political pressure. Asif Ali Zardari sworn in as the head of state on September 08, 2008.

Zardari’s presidency and the PPP rule under him criticized for the lack of governance and the rising menace of terrorism in the country. The PPP government during Zardari’s presidency was also criticized for mishandling relief operations in 2010 massive floods in Sindh, failure to improve the economic situation of the country.

However, under his presidency the parliament passed the 18th Amendment in the Pakistani constitution and restored the original scheme of the basic law of the land to the parliamentary system of the government. Pakistan’s 1973 constitution was changed during the tenure of military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq to a system in which the powers have been radically transferred to the office of the President.

Nevertheless, Zardari became the first democratically elected president of Pakistan who enjoys the distinction of completing his tenure of the office.

Presently Asif Ali Zardari continues to lead the PPP along with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.