Claim: Former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, is dead.
Fact: Asif Ali Zardari underwent a minor eye surgery in Dubai, which was performed successfully, and his health is gradually improving.
On 28 March 2023, a viral tweet expressed sorrow for the death of Asif Ali Zardari, claiming that it has not yet been publicly announced.
A day before, other tweets alluded to the possibility of Zardari’s death. One such tweet shared a photograph of the Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, tending to an elderly patient on a hospital bed. This tweet was captioned “ یہ زرداری ہے ؟؟ “ (Translation: Is this Zardari? )
In response to these tweets, many people expressed their condolences for Zardari’s death, while others claimed that the news was false.
It is worth noting that news of Zardari’s death has circulated through mainstream media multiple times over the course of a few years, with particular concentration during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Some examples of these claims can be seen here, here, and here.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reviewed all mainstream news organisations’ websites and found no reports on Asif Ali Zardari’s death in March 2023. The news of his death initially surfaced on mainstream media on 27 March, 2023, and was followed by alleged confirmations the very next day.
It is possible that the source of this rumour began with the news of Zardari’s minor surgery in Dubai. Many publications, such as Dawn News, The News, and The Nation, have reported on this issue.
Zardari had undergone minor eye surgery in Dubai, UAE. As reported by Dawn News, members of his party stated that the surgery had been scheduled in advance, and his health has since improved. They also mentioned that his close aide Dr Asim Hussain, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and MPA Suhail Anwar Siyal are also in Dubai.
The former president has already been shifted back to his home in Dubai. Soch Fact Check also spoke to former senator Farhatullah Babar who confirmed that any news regarding Asif Ali Zardari’s death is fake and that he is alive. We also reached out to PPP MPA politician Saeed Ghani who shared with us an image of Asif Ali Zardari, shared originally on 29 March 2023, showing that he is alive and well.
Therefore, the news of Zardari’s death is not a reality but rather an amalgamation of misinformation and clickbait.
Virality
The viral tweet claiming that Zardari has passed away because of sickness was viewed 43,400 times and received over 200 interactions on Twitter.
We found posts sharing the same claim on Facebook here and here.
Conclusion: PPP politician Asif Ali Zardari is not dead.