Hakim Ali Zardari facts for kids

Hakim Ali Zardari (born December 9, 1930 – died May 24, 2011) was a well-known Pakistani politician. He served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for several terms. He was in office from 1972 to 1977, then from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996.

Besides being a politician, he was also a landlord and a successful businessman. He was involved in the film industry, working as both a film distributor and a producer for movies in Sindhi and Urdu languages.

Early Life and School Days

Hakim Ali Zardari was born on December 9, 1930. His birthplace was the village of Fatohal Zardari. His father was Mohammad Hussain Zardari. His father's family belonged to the Zardari tribe from Baluchistan. The British government chose them to be zamindars, which means landlords, in Sindh. His mother came from Iraq.

He started his education at a mosque school. Later, he finished his high school studies at DC High School in Nawabshah.

His Journey in Politics

Zardari began his political journey in 1965. He was first elected as a member of the Nawabshah District Council. After that, he became the Mayor of District Nawabshah. In the 1965 presidential elections, he supported Fatima Jinnah against Ayub Khan.

In 1970, he became one of the founding members of the Pakistan Peoples Party. In the same year, he was also chosen as the head of the Zardari tribe.

He was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan in the elections of 1970, 1988, and 1993. During the first government led by Benazir Bhutto, he was the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. He faced some criticism from other political groups during this time. A project he was involved with, a hotel and golf course, also faced challenges and was stopped due to concerns raised by others.

He faced periods of imprisonment during the time of other leaders, including Nawaz Sharif and Pervaiz Musharraf.

A Career in Business and Film

Hakim Ali Zardari was also a successful businessman. He built cinema houses in cities like Hyderabad and Karachi. He worked as a film distributor, helping to bring movies to audiences. He also produced a Sindhi film called Soorat.

He owned a house in Normandy, France. He faced legal challenges regarding his wealth and was accused of having more assets than his known income. However, the Sindh High Court later overturned his conviction in 2007. He also faced a similar case in Lahore related to business dealings for a tourist village. This conviction was also overturned by the Lahore High Court in 2002.

Family Life

Hakim Ali Zardari was married twice. His first wife was Bilquis Sultana, who passed away in November 2002. His second wife was Zareen Ara, who passed away in June 2022.

He had four children with Bilquis Sultana: his son Asif Ali Zardari, and three daughters, Fouzia Abbasi, Azra Peechoho, and Faryal Talpur. He also had an adopted son named Owais Muzaffar Tappi.

He did not have any children with his second wife, Zareen Ara Bukhari. She was a very educated woman, being the first Pakistani woman to get a PhD in English literature from Cambridge University. She was also known in the world of literature. Her father was Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari, a writer and music composer. He was also the first director-general of Radio Pakistan. Her uncle was Patras Bokhari, one of Pakistan's most famous writers. Hakim Ali Zardari proposed to Zareen Ara while he was producing his movie Dhoop Aur Saye in 1968.

His Later Years

In March 2011, Hakim Ali Zardari was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) due to multiple organ failure. He passed away in the hospital on May 24, 2011, at the age of 80.