CNews ISLAMABAD: Pakistan president-elect Asif Ali Zardari has been sworn in to office Tuesday, completing a rise to power considered unthinkable before the slaying of his opposition leader wife Benazir Bhutto.Zardari secured a large win in a poll among lawmakers Saturday and has become the new president of Pakistan.The oath taking ceremony took place in a closely-guarded ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr (President House) in Islamabad around 1:30pm (0730 GMT).The Afghan president Hamid Karzai also attended the event, in which Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar administered the oath as government leaders, military top brass, judges, diplomats and high-ranking civil servants look on.Leaders from various political parties, chief ministers and governors of provinces, foreign diplomats, businessmen and representative of civil society attended the ceremony.Zardari’s Children—Bakhtawar, Asifa and Bilawar Bhutto Zardari along with their aunt Sanam Bhutto also attended the ceremony.Talking to media before the oath taking, PML-N President and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Zardari’s assuming office of presidency is victory of democracy.Ishaq Dar said his party will continue cooperation with government, adding the democratic process has completed today.Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said Zardari’s victory is the victory of democracy.Senator Samiul Haq said the responsibilities of Asif Zardari increased mulifolds.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party felicitates the whole nation over the supremacy of the constitution."It is a very significant day in the history of Pakistan and it is the victory of the people and the mission of Benazir Bhutto shaheed (martyr)," said PPP leader Farzana Raja."The dream that she saw for the people of Pakistan has come true," she added, reflecting on Bhutto's plans for the country before her assassination at a campaign rally in December 2007.Security around President House, which is situated in the already high-security zone of Islamabad, has been further fortified ahead of the inauguration, officials said.Asif Zardari, as president of Pakistan, succeeded Pervez Musharraf.Zardari will leave for US on September 22, where he will address the General Assembly of the Security Council. The United States restated Pakistan 's strategic importance ahead of Zardari's inauguration, with President George W. Bush set to describe the country as a major war on terrorism battleground, such as Afghanistan or Iraq ."They are all theatres in the same overall struggle. In all three places, extremists are using violence and terror in an attempt to impose their ideology on whole populations," Bush said in an advance text released late Monday.His message came amid media reports of multiple strikes inside Pakistan recently by US or international troops based in Afghanistan, which accuses its neighbour of abetting or at least turning a blind eye to cross-border violence."Defeating these terrorist and extremists is in Pakistan 's interest because they pose a mortal threat to Pakistan 's future as a free and democratic nation," Bush said in the prepared remarks.
CNews ISLAMABAD: Pakistan president-elect Asif Ali Zardari has been sworn in to office Tuesday, completing a rise to power considered unthinkable before the slaying of his opposition leader wife Benazir Bhutto.Zardari secured a large win in a poll among lawmakers Saturday and has become the new president of Pakistan.The oath taking ceremony took place in a closely-guarded ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr (President House) in Islamabad around 1:30pm (0730 GMT).The Afghan president Hamid Karzai also attended the event, in which Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar administered the oath as government leaders, military top brass, judges, diplomats and high-ranking civil servants look on.Leaders from various political parties, chief ministers and governors of provinces, foreign diplomats, businessmen and representative of civil society attended the ceremony.Zardari’s Children—Bakhtawar, Asifa and Bilawar Bhutto Zardari along with their aunt Sanam Bhutto also attended the ceremony.Talking to media before the oath taking, PML-N President and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Zardari’s assuming office of presidency is victory of democracy.Ishaq Dar said his party will continue cooperation with government, adding the democratic process has completed today.Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said Zardari’s victory is the victory of democracy.Senator Samiul Haq said the responsibilities of Asif Zardari increased mulifolds.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party felicitates the whole nation over the supremacy of the constitution."It is a very significant day in the history of Pakistan and it is the victory of the people and the mission of Benazir Bhutto shaheed (martyr)," said PPP leader Farzana Raja."The dream that she saw for the people of Pakistan has come true," she added, reflecting on Bhutto's plans for the country before her assassination at a campaign rally in December 2007.Security around President House, which is situated in the already high-security zone of Islamabad, has been further fortified ahead of the inauguration, officials said.Asif Zardari, as president of Pakistan, succeeded Pervez Musharraf.Zardari will leave for US on September 22, where he will address the General Assembly of the Security Council. The United States restated Pakistan 's strategic importance ahead of Zardari's inauguration, with President George W. Bush set to describe the country as a major war on terrorism battleground, such as Afghanistan or Iraq ."They are all theatres in the same overall struggle. In all three places, extremists are using violence and terror in an attempt to impose their ideology on whole populations," Bush said in an advance text released late Monday.His message came amid media reports of multiple strikes inside Pakistan recently by US or international troops based in Afghanistan, which accuses its neighbour of abetting or at least turning a blind eye to cross-border violence."Defeating these terrorist and extremists is in Pakistan 's interest because they pose a mortal threat to Pakistan 's future as a free and democratic nation," Bush said in the prepared remarks.
