asif ali zardari corrpation history

 

Asif Ali Zardari, the former President of Pakistan, has a long and controversial history in business and politics. Zardari's business interests have been subject to scrutiny and accusations of corruption for several decades. In this essay, we will explore the history of Zardari's business ventures and the allegations of corruption that have been leveled against him.

Zardari's business career began in the 1980s, when he started a security company called the 'Arabian Sea Enterprises' (ASE). The company provided security services to foreign diplomats and businessmen in Pakistan. In 1989, Zardari married Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. When Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister in 1993, Zardari's business interests expanded rapidly, and he became one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.

Zardari's businesses included a range of ventures, including sugar mills, real estate, and a power plant. In 1997, the Pakistani government launched an investigation into Zardari's businesses, accusing him of corruption and money laundering. Zardari was arrested and spent eight years in jail, during which time he was often referred to as the 'prisoner-president.'

The charges against Zardari were eventually dropped, and he was released from prison in 2004. He returned to politics, serving as the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with his wife, Benazir Bhutto. In 2008, Zardari became President of Pakistan after his wife was assassinated.

During his time as President, Zardari's business interests continued to be a source of controversy. In 2009, the New York Times reported that Zardari had transferred $13 million out of Pakistan and into Swiss bank accounts. Zardari denied the allegations, but the controversy led to calls for his resignation.

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the arrest of Zardari and several other PPP leaders on corruption charges. The case, known as the 'contempt of court' case, accused Zardari and his colleagues of failing to comply with court orders to reopen corruption cases against them. Zardari was eventually granted bail, and the case was dropped in 2013.

Zardari's business interests have also been linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC is a massive infrastructure project that aims to connect China's western region to the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. The project has been criticized for its lack of transparency, and there have been allegations of corruption and kickbacks involving Pakistani officials and Chinese companies.

Zardari has been accused of receiving kickbacks from Chinese companies involved in the CPEC project. In 2018, a former Pakistani senator, Farhatullah Babar, claimed that Zardari had received $1.5 billion in kickbacks from Chinese companies involved in the project. Zardari denied the allegations, but the controversy continues to dog him.

In conclusion, Asif Ali Zardari's business career has been marked by controversy and allegations of corruption. While he has never been convicted of any crime, his business interests have been subject to numerous investigations and allegations over the years. Zardari's legacy in Pakistan remains a subject of debate, with some seeing him as a victim of political persecution, while others view him as a corrupt businessman who used his political power to enrich himself.