Asif Ali Zardari leaves Pakistan, goes to Dubai

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President Asif Ali Zardari has left for Dubai, a media report said on Thursday. His departure took place amid a stand-off between the political leadership and the powerful military.

Geo News reported that Zardari left for Dubai on one-day private visit.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday asserted his authority by dismissing defence secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general widely seen to be close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Gilani also accused the army chief and ISI chief Lt.Gen. Shuja Pasha of violating the constitution by submitting their replies to the Supreme Court without the government approval in the case over a memo sent to Washington that said President Zardari feared a military take-over following last year's killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media arm, said: "There can be no allegation more serious than what the prime minister has levelled against (Kayani and Pasha) and has unfortunately charged the officers (with) violation of the constitution."

"This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country," it warned.

A month back, Zardari had abruptly left for Dubai from where he returned on December 18 2011, putting to rest rumours of a coup in Pakistan.

The 56-year-old president arrived at the port city of Karachi after he spent nearly two weeks in Dubai.

Zardari's sudden departure then had led to intense speculation with Gilani telling the Senate that an ailing president feared for his life in Pakistan hospitals.

There had been a lot of confusion over Zardari's health.

Initial reports said he had flown out of Pakistan on December 6 over a heart ailment. While Pakistan Army doctors had declared him fit, a US-based magazine said he had suffered a minor heart attack.

Later, some media reports said Zardari had suffered a stroke that caused bleeding in the brain and facial paralysis.