Islamabad:
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari is "fine" and will return home from Dubai soon, a senior journalist quoted him as saying today as speculation persisted about the embattled leader's health and the fate of the Pakistan People's Party-led government.
"I'm fine and will return soon," Mr Zardari was quoted as saying by Hamid Mir of Geo News channel. Mr Mir said that Mr Zardari spoke to him on phone and seemed to be "in high spirits and upbeat", state-run PTV reported.
Mr Zardari told Mr Mir that "his detractors who were speculating about his health would be frustrated", PTV reported.
Those who flee the country take their children along but he had left his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad, Zardari reportedly said.
The President said his children and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had forced him to travel to Dubai for medical tests.
"I did not want to leave. My children and friends and the Prime Minister insisted that I go for a check-up," he was quoted as saying by Mir.
Mr Zardari, 56, quoted famous Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and said, "My enemies will be disappointed." He added: "I was born in Pakistan and will live and die there."
He pointed out that during his slain wife Benazir Bhutto's tenure as premier in 1996, he went to Britain and "some people spread rumours that he would not return but he did return and was subsequently jailed", PTV reported.
This was the first time Mr Zardari has spoken to the media since he went to Dubai on Tuesday for treatment of what officials have described as a previously diagnosed "cardiovascular condition".
The phone call to Mr Mir appeared to be aimed at tackling speculation about the President's health.
Mr Zardari also spoke to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on phone during the afternoon, said a statement from the Premier's office.
The Pakistan President's abrupt departure for Dubai led to speculation that the unpopular leader might resign due to growing pressure on him from the powerful military.
Mr Zardari has been at the centre of a storm since Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz made public a secret memorandum sent to the US military that sought American help to stave off a possible military takeover in May.
Despite denials from officials, Islamabad continues to be abuzz with rumours and unconfirmed reports that Mr Zardari had suffered a "minor heart attack" and facial paralysis.
Gulf News daily quoted an unnamed presidential aide as saying that Mr Zardari may not return to Pakistan for weeks.
Mr Zardari was due to address a joint session of both Houses of Parliament on the "Memogate" scandal but the government has not set any date for the speech.