Pak Prez Asif Ali Zardari suffers stroke, facial paralysis

Islamabad, Dec 9: With Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari going through a major health scare, there are reports emerging that he suffered a "mild" stroke that led to bleeding in the brain and facial paralysis. This occurred before he was flown to Dubai for emergency treatment, says media reports.

The News daily reported that the President was stable and out of danger since the stroke and internal bleeding were not "life threatening". The report added that Zardari would require "some treatment, including speech therapy, to resume his normal life."

A source has been quoted as saying in the report that Zardari was "likely to be flown to London for detailed treatment." With Pakistan authorities not revealing the gravity of the health condition, it is understood that Zardari "collapsed in the Presidency" on Tuesday under the impact of the stroke. This comes when aides of Zardari denied that he had a heart attack.

The presidential spokesman had earlier commented that Zardari was in Dubai for routine medical check up. He added that the President was moved from the intensive care unit to a normal hospital room.

The report also mentioned that the President was a blood pressure patient and was taking blood thinners. "Such patients at times do experience a stroke, which in the case of the President was mild. In certain cases, it becomes fatal," the report added.

Zardari was under immense pressure recently following the memogate scandal and there were reports doing the rounds that he would submit his resignation following "ill-health". It was reported earlier that Zardari has had two or three stents implanted in his heart in the past to open blocked arteries.

OneIndia News