Gilani sworn in as Pakistani prime minister by Musharraf
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2008 12:06
Yousuf Raza Gilani takes oath as Pakistani prime minister
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Pervez Musharraf's resignation leaves a big hole in Pakistani politics – one which analysts expect the west will look to the military to fill. Full Story
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has sworn in Yousuf Raza Gilani as the country's new prime minister.
Many senior members of the ruling coalition elected last month stayed away from the Islamabad ceremony in an apparent snub to Mr Musharraf.
Mr Gilani was elected as Pakistan's PM yesterday by the country's national assembly.
A former parliament speaker, Mr Gilani spent six years in jail after being convicted by the Musharraf administration of making illegal appointments; charges he claimed were politically motivated.
He was proposed as prime minister by the Pakistan People's party (PPP), which holds the largest share of seats in the parliament.
The PPP, which was previously headed by assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, is in coalition with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, headed by ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and the secular Awami National party.
Mr Gilani, who was previously an aide to Ms Bhutto, has already signalled his authority by announcing the release of chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and 60 other judges placed under house arrest by Mr Musharraf last autumn.
He has also unveiled plans for a resolution calling on a United Nations inquiry into the assassination of Ms Bhutto.
Making his first public appearance since last November's declaration of emergency rule, Mr Chaudhry said: "I am thankful to the entire nation which has struggled for the last five months for the rule of law."
Today's ceremony in Islamabad coincided with the arrival of senior US diplomats in Pakistan's capital.
US deputy secretary of state John Negroponte and assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher have already held talks with former prime minister Mr Sharif.
Washington still views Mr Musharraf, who arrived in a bloodless coup in 1999 and restored Pakistan to civilian rule last year, as a key ally in George Bush's war on terror, despite increased civil unrest and terrorist attacks in the south Asian country over the last 12 months.