Bhutto widower sworn in as Pakistan president
Tuesday, 09 Sep 2008 11:18
Asif Ali Zardari – widower of Benazir Bhutto – sworn in as president of Pakistan
The widower of former
Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has been sworn in as the country's president.
Asif Ali Zardari took the oath at President House in Islamabad today following his victory in the polls last Saturday.
"I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," Mr Zardari said in front of a delegation of dignitaries and diplomats that included his and Ms Bhutto's three children and Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai.
Crowds watching the ceremony chanted "Long live Bhutto" and "Bhutto is alive" after Mr Zardari took the oath.
The 53-year-old replaces former army chief and coup leader Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month to avoid impeachment charges.
Mr Zardari's arrival on the world stage coincides with a rampant Islamic insurgency in the country's north and a stagnation of Pakistan's economy.
The president, who has been beset – but never convicted – with corruption accusations throughout his career, is a leading figure in Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's party (PPP).
The ruling coalition that the PPP formed with the PML-N party of Nawaz Sharif – a long-time political foe of both Mr Zardari and Ms Bhutto – was hit when the former prime minister withdrew his lawmakers last month.
Ms Bhutto, a twice-former prime minister of Pakistan, was assassinated on December 27th 2007 after attending a rally in Rawalpindi.