How to Pronounce Asif Ali Zardari

Meaning and Context

Asif Ali Zardari, born 26 July 1955, is a pivotal and often controversial figure in Pakistani politics, having made history as the first president born after the nation's independence in 1947. A central leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Zardari first served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, a tenure marked by the significant constitutional reform of the 18th Amendment which devolved presidential powers to the parliament. His political journey is deeply intertwined with the legacy of his spouse, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whom he succeeded as co-chairperson of the PPP following her assassination in 2007. After a coalition government formed following the 2024 Pakistani general election, Zardari was elected again and began his second non-consecutive term as the 14th President of Pakistan on 10 March 2024. His career, spanning decades, has been characterized by formidable political resilience, navigating lengthy periods of imprisonment on corruption charges—for which he was often called "Mr. Ten Percent"—and ultimately returning to the highest office, cementing his status as a key player in the nation's democratic evolution and the enduring influence of the Bhutto-Zardari political dynasty.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard Romanized spelling is "Asif Ali Zardari." Common variations and errors often arise from transliteration and phonetic spelling. Frequent misspellings include "Asif Ali Zardari" (incorrectly adding an 'h'), "Asef Ali Zardari" (substituting 's' with 'sef'), and "Asif Ali Zardery" or "Zardari" (mangling the ending). His middle name, "Ali," is sometimes mistakenly written as "Alī" with a macron or combined as "Alizadari." In Urdu, his name is correctly written as آصف علی زرداری, and in Sindhi as آصف علي زرداري. It is also not uncommon to see his surname confused with "Bhutto," due to his familial association, leading to the erroneous compound "Asif Ali Zardari Bhutto." Attention to the double 'r' in "Zardari" is important, as single 'r' spellings like "Zadari" are typographically common.

Example Sentences

Following the formation of a coalition government after the 2024 elections, Asif Ali Zardari was elected by parliament to become president for a second time.

During his first presidential term from 2008 to 2013, Zardari oversaw the passage of the historic 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan.

Political analysts often describe Asif Ali Zardari as a shrewd tactician whose ability to build consensus among rival parties has been a hallmark of his career.

Despite facing persistently low approval ratings and widespread corruption allegations, Zardari's return to the presidency in 2024 demonstrated the enduring organizational strength of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

In his address to the joint session, President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized economic stability and federal unity as his administration's top priorities.

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