President Zardari may fly to Dubai for check-up: Sources

DUBAI: President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to arrive in Dubai on Thursday for further medical check-ups following his admission to hospital there last month for heart treatment, sources close to the president told Reuters.

The planned trip comes at time when Zardari is facing growing threats over a memo allegedly crafted by his former ambassador to the United States seeking help in preventing a coup by Pakistan's powerful generals.

“It’s in Zardari’s schedule to be coming to Dubai today for a one-day trip, but it’s still unclear if he will come for sure,” said a source.

Zardari, 56, was released from a Dubai hospital last month after being treated for what was a transient ischemic attack, in which blood supply to a part of the nervous system is cut off, but not for long enough to kill tissue as in a stroke.

His trip to Dubai in December had triggered speculation that he might resign.

“This trip will be for a follow-up medical check-up and then he’ll be returning right away,” said an associate of President Zardari.

Copyright Reuters, 2012