Zardari asked to exit presidential race

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The head of the Pakistan People's Party, Asif Ali Zardari, should withdraw from the presidential race due to his mental health, an opposition official says.

Pakistan Muslim League politician Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who is serving as the secretary-general for the league's Quaid-e-Azam division, said Friday that questions about Zardari's mental health should force the candidate from the electoral race, the Press Trust of India said.

"I feel it would be in the interests of Pakistan, democracy and the Pakistan People's Party that this office (of president) remains above controversy and I would humbly request Mr. Zardari that he should withdraw his candidature in the supreme national interest and in interest of democratic stability," Sayed said.

The race for the Pakistani presidency appears to be between Zardari and Sayed with former Supreme Court Chief Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui also mentioned as a possible candidate.

Yet doctors and Zardari's own lawyers have made comments suggesting the Pakistani official once suffered from mental disorders such as dementia.

The Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday that there is little chance that Zardari, the husband of slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, will withdraw from the race.