Pakistani President leaves for Dubai

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday left for Dubai for medical checkup amidst the government's tension with the superior judiciary and the powerful military. Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari will return to Pakistan in 24 hours. Zardari left the country when Pakistan plunged into escalating political crisis over an alleged memo sent to Washington asking for U.S. help in staving off a military coup, enraging the army and sparking a Supreme Court probe. Rumors spread that Zardari may resign due to his health condition when he went to Dubai for a week-long treatment last month. Moreover, the Supreme Courts' judges complain that the government is not implementing most of its verdicts. The Supreme Court warned on Tuesday Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani would lose his parliamentary seat if he failed to re-open graft cases against Zardari. The parliament session has been summoned on Thursday evening to review the fast changing situation and the Prime Minister is likely to make a policy statement. The opposition lawmakers have also decided to give a tough time to the government amid a call by the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif for early elections and resignation of the government.