ISLAMABAD: A claim circulating on social media alleging that Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari is critically ill has been rejected by a senior government ally, who described it as “false and fabricated”.
The claim originated from a post by a website, Islamabad Post, which was later shared on X (formerly Twitter) on April 19, where it gained significant traction — drawing more than 180,000 views along with hundreds of reposts, likes and comments.
The post alleged that Zardari had been diagnosed with a serious illness and was under pressure to resign, citing unnamed sources. No evidence was provided to support the claims.
🚨 Breaking
Reports claim that Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, has been diagnosed with AIDS, and his health condition is described as critical.
According to sources, the military is attempting to pressure him into resigning and removing him from office. pic.twitter.com/OxNHozUsCT— Islamabad Post (@ISBPost) April 19, 2026
In response, senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Saleem Mandviwalla, issued a clarification dismissing the reports.
“News circulating on social media regarding President Asif Ali Zardari is baseless and fabricated,” he said.
Mandviwalla also warned against the spread of misinformation, calling it “misleading” and urging the public not to rely on unverified reports.
He added that Zardari is in good health and criticised the use of “fake news for political purposes”, calling for action against those responsible for spreading false information.
The viral claim appears to be part of a wider pattern of unverified reports circulating online during periods of political sensitivity in Pakistan.
There has been no official confirmation from government or medical sources supporting the allegations made in the original post.
