Hakim Ali Zardari
Hakim Ali Zardari (1930 – 24 May 2011), Urdu: حاکم علی زرداری) was a Pakistani politician who served as a member of National Assembly of Pakistan from 1972 to 1977 and again from 1988 to 1990 and then again from 1993 to 1996.
Hakim Ali Zardari | |
|---|---|
| Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| In office 1972–1977 | |
| In office 1988–1990 | |
| In office 1993–1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1930 Nawabshah, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Died | 24 May 2011 (aged 80–81) Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Resting place | Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Political party | Pakistan Peoples Party |
| Other political affiliations | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Bilquis Sultana Zareen Ara |
| Children | Asif Ali Zardari (son) Faryal Talpur (daughter) Azra Peechoho (daughter) Fauzia Zardari (daughter) |
| Profession | Businessman, agriculturist |
He had been involved in Pakistani politics since the 1960s and had served as a federal minister twice.
Early life
He was born in 1930 in the village of Fatohal Zardari to Mohammad Hassan Zardari.[1] His father's family were from the Zardari tribe of Baluchistan and was recruited by the British to be zamindars in Sindh. His mother was originally from Iraq.[1] He received his initial education from mosque school and completed his matriculation from DC High School in Nawabshah.[2]
Political career
Zardari started his political career in 1965 when he was elected member of the Nawabshah District Council and later was elected as the Mayor of District Nawabshah.[2] He supported Fatima Jinnah in the 1965 presidential elections against Ayub Khan.[2]
In 1970, he joined the Pakistan Peoples Party as a founding member. He also got elected head of the Zardari tribe in 1970.[2]
He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1970, 1988, and 1993.[2][1]
He was imprisoned during the tenures of Nawaz Sharif and Pervaiz Musharraf and was implicated with his son for the murder of Federal Secretary Alam Baloch.[1]
Business career and wealth
He built cinema houses in Hyderabad and Karachi and worked as a film distributor. He also produced a Sindhi film, Soorat.[2]
He had a house in Normandy, France which he was accused of buying for 724 million dollars.[3] The National Accountability Bureau filed a reference against him for having assets beyond source of income and was sentenced for five years of rigorous imprisonment, a fine of 18.5 million rupees and disqualified him from holding any elected office for 10 years.[3] On health ground his house was declared as sub-jail.[3]
On 24 January 2007, Sindh High Court overturned his conviction made by the accountability bureau.[3]
He was also convicted in similar case in Lahore for making shady transactions with various organisations for establishing a tourist village at Rawalpindi National Park through Zardari Group. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and asked to pay a fine of 20 million rupees but this was also overturned by Lahore High Court in 2002.[3]
Personal life
He married twice[1] and had four children; Asif Ali Zardari, Fouzia Zardari, Azra Peechoho and Faryal Talpur. He also had an adopted son Owais Muzaffar Tappi.
Death
Hakim Ali Zardari was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in March following multiple organ failure. He died in the hospital on 24 May 2011 at age 81.[2]
References
- "President grieved: Hakim Ali Zardari passes away". The Express Tribune. 25 May 2011.
- "Hakim Zardari is dead". Dawn. 24 May 2011.
- "Hakim Ali Zardari: an icon of success". Dawn. 24 May 2011.