Pakistan's president will be discharged from hospital in Dubai on Thursday, his office said.
The
Wednesday statement did not say when Asif Ali Zardari would be
returning home, and thus may not end speculation that the embattled
leader is losing his grip on power.
The statement did not specify
the cause of the president's weeklong illness, but a close associate has
said he suffered a "mini-stroke."
Zardari's illness and his
sudden trip abroad have triggered rumors and media reports that the
56-year-old leader could be set to resign, or even be ousted in a
military coup. This has been denied by officials, who he say he will
remain president of the nuclear-armed, violent and political unstable
nation.
The statement said Zardari was to rest at home after being
discharged, but didn't say whether the convalescence would be in
Pakistan or in Dubai, where his family is known to have property.
So
long as the president remains out of Pakistan, the media, his opponents
and political observers are likely to continue to wonder whether he is
being forced from power.
The presidency also faxed a statement
bearing the letterhead of the American Hospital in Dubai, giving details
of the Zardari's health. Signed by a doctor at the hospital, it said on
admission the president was complaining of numbness in the left arm,
twitching and had suffered a "loss of consciousness that lasted for a
few seconds."
The statement did not give a diagnosis, but said Zardari was to continue taking his regular heart medication.
It
said doctors performed procedures including an MRI scan of his brain
and a lumbar puncture taking fluid from his spine, and that results
"were within normal range."
On Tuesday, a close associate of Zardari said the leader had suffered a "mini-stroke"
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, because with a TIA, the blood supply is restored.
Zardari was admitted to hospital on Dec. 6.
His
absence coincided with domestic political attacks against him over a
memo delivered to U.S. officials, asking for Washington's help in
reining in Pakistan's powerful military.
Zardari had been scheduled to present a statement to the Supreme Court this week explaining his role, if any, in the affair.
The
president's illness also came a week after NATO airstrikes killed 24
Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border, causing a spike in tensions
with the United States.
Zardari had been expected to address a
joint session of parliament about the raid, which has triggered a wave
of anger in the country at his government's alliance with Washington. AP
