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Summary President suffered mini-stroke that led to hospitalisation in Dubai, said his close associate.
Zardaris trip to Dubai last week has led to speculation denied by the government that he is losing his grip on power.The associate said Zardari, 56, will stay under observation in the Gulf sheikdom for around two weeks before returning. He said there was no question that Zardari was too ill to return to office, echoing what other officials have said in recent days.A mini-stroke is medically known as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted, causing symptoms similar to a stroke but not as long-lasting.The associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said that Zardaris diagnosis had been made by the presidents two physicians.Also Tuesday, Pakistani Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan told reporters in Islamabad that Zardari was improving very quickly, citing the presidents physicians.TIAs are often warning signs that a person is at risk for a more serious and debilitating stroke. About one-third of those who have a TIA will have an acute stroke some time in the future, according to the website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Drug therapy or surgery may be recommended to reduce the risk of subsequent stroke.Earlier, officials had said that Zardaris trip was for routine medical tests. They then said he was having treatment related to a heart condition. The lack of information, and its sometimes contradictory nature, fueled the speculation.Questions about the presidents future come as Pakistan is navigating a rough patch in relations with its most important ally, the United States, following NATO airstrikes last month that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The government called more than a dozen of its envoys back to Islamabad amid the crisis for a two day meeting.The attack has pushed the already strained U.S.-Pakistani relationship close to the critical point, imperiling Washingtons efforts to get Islamabad to cooperate on the Afghan war. --AP
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