Asif Ali Zardari has done what no civilian in Pakistan’s history had done before: win the presidency twice. Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party and widower of Benazir Bhutto, he first held Aiwan-e-Sadr from 2008 to 2013 — completing the first full civilian presidential term — and returned on 10 March 2024. This is his story.
Quick answer: Asif Ali Zardari is the 14th President of Pakistan, sworn in on 10 March 2024 for his second term (first: 2008–2013). He won the 2024 electoral college 411–181 against Mahmood Khan Achakzai and is the only civilian to hold the presidency twice.
In this guide
Early Life and Marriage
Born 26 July 1955 in Karachi into a Sindhi landowning family, Asif Ali Zardari married Benazir Bhutto in December 1987 — the first marriage of a serving prime minister’s daughter to draw national attention. When Benazir became prime minister (1988–1990, 1993–1996), Zardari served as a minister and senator. After her governments fell, he spent years in detention facing corruption cases, much of it without conviction, before being released in 2004. Benazir’s assassination on 27 December 2007 in Rawalpindi thrust him into the PPP’s leadership alongside their son Bilawal.
First Presidency (2008–2013)
Elected president on 6 September 2008 with 481 of 702 electoral votes, Zardari took oath on 9 September 2008. His defining act was the 18th Amendment (2010), which stripped the presidency of the sweeping powers accumulated under military rule and devolved authority to the provinces — a voluntary surrender of power rare in Pakistani history. He also oversaw the 7th National Finance Commission award, the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package and the Benazir Income Support Programme. He completed his full five-year term on 8 September 2013 — the first elected president to do so — and handed over to Mamnoon Hussain.
The 2024 Return
After the February 2024 general election produced a hung parliament, the PPP backed PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif for prime minister in exchange for the presidency. On 9 March 2024 Zardari won the electoral college 411–181 against PTI-backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai; Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath on 10 March 2024 at Aiwan-e-Sadr. His daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari assumed the role of First Lady. In his second term he has operated within the ceremonial presidency his own amendment created — while remaining the PPP’s central power broker. See the full presidents guide for context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Asif Ali Zardari?
Born 26 July 1955, Asif Ali Zardari is 71 years old as of October 2026.
Who is Zardari’s family?
He was married to Benazir Bhutto (assassinated 27 December 2007) and did not remarry. Their three children are Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (PPP chairman), Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari — the current First Lady of Pakistan.
