Zardari may return to Pakistan tonight: Sources

Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who was treated for a heart condition in Dubai, could return to his country late tonight, according to a media report.

Mr Zardari had been declared "completely fit" by doctors and was told he could resume his normal duties, a Pakistan news channel quoted its sources as saying.

The 56-year-old President may fly to the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi in his special aircraft tonight, the report said. The President's aircraft was on stand-by at the airport, the channel reported. His personal staff was expected to return with him.

Mr Zardari's abrupt departure for Dubai on December 6 to seek treatment for a heart condition triggered speculation that he might be facing pressure from the powerful military to resign following the emergence of a secret memo sent to the US military.

The memo had sought US help to prevent a coup in Pakistan in the wake of the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May.

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The government dismissed reports that Zardari had suffered a stroke and that he would step down.

However, it has not set a date for his return.

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Several leaders of the ruling Pakistan People's Party have indicated that Zardari could be back home in time to attend events to be held on December 27 to mark the death anniversary of his slain wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto.