In a recent appearance on Geo News’ Capital Talk, Asif Zardari made a significant assertion, stating that he spent 14 years and seven months in detention, with the last seven months occurring during the Imran Khan government. This claim has prompted a fact-check to examine the accuracy of the statement.
Zardari’s legal saga dates back to his first arrest on October 10, 1990, during the tenure of an IJI-led caretaker government. Initially arrested on kidnapping and extortion charges, Zardari’s imprisonment began in 1990, and after securing bail on February 2, 1993, he faced heightened corruption allegations, earning him the moniker “Mr. Ten Percent.”
Subsequent arrests, particularly on November 6, 1996, implicated Zardari in Murtaza Bhutto’s death. Despite never being convicted, he faced charges including corruption, money laundering, and murder. Zardari spent time in prison from 1997 to November 2004, during which he was elected to the Senate from his jail cell.
Examining the historical timeline, it is evident that Zardari was not continuously behind bars for 14 years and seven months. Instead, he faced periods of imprisonment, release on bail, and re-arrest over the years. If we consider his time in prison from 1990 to 1993 and from 1996 to 2004, it adds up to approximately 11 years. Adding the seven months during Imran Khan’s government brings the total to 11 years and seven months.
It is crucial to note that during this period, Zardari faced varying terms of imprisonment under different leaders—six years during Nawaz Sharif’s government, five years under Musharraf, and seven months during Imran Khan’s tenure.
