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| Pakistan enters Zardari era |
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Asif Ali Zardari takes oath as 12th president of country from Justice Dogar
ISLAMABAD: PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as the 12th president of Pakistan on Tuesday at a closely-guarded ceremony at the presidential palace in Islamabad.
"I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan," Zardari said, reciting the oath of office administered by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar in a ceremony broadcast live to the nation, as his three children looked on.
"May Allah Almighty help and guide me, amen," he concluded, sitting down to loud cheers of "Long live Bhutto," and "Bhutto is alive". Afghan President Hamid Karzai joined Pakistani government leaders, military top brass, judges, diplomats and high-ranking civil servants at the ceremony. A military guard of honour greeted Zardari on the lawn of the presidential palace at the conclusion of the ceremony.
A horse-drawn black chariot, decorated with the national flag, then carried the new president a short distance before he disembarked to inspect the troops. Zardari kissed his son Bilawal - the chairman of the PPP - and bowed at the feet of his father, Hakim Ali Zardari, before being embraced by his daughters, Bakhtawar and Asifa.
Security around the President House, which is situated in the already high-security zone of Islamabad, had been further fortified ahead of the inauguration, officials said. The ceremony was also attended by National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa, Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq, the governors, the chief ministers, the services chiefs, intellectuals and important personalities. ANP's Asfandyar Wali, JUI's Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif were also present. —Agencies
Muhammad Saleh Zaafir adds: The Presidency wore a festive look on Monday on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of President Asif Ali Zardari, the 12th President of the country.
The president was given a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of the three services at the main gate of the Presidency when he arrived for the ceremony in the traditionally decorated buggy. Present at the gate was his father Hakim Ali Zardari, son Bilawal, daughters Bakhtawar, Asifa, sister-in-law Sanam Bhutto and personal staff received him.
Like a deferential son he touched the feet of his father Hakim Ali Zardari, an elderly politician of Sindh who kissed Asif Zardari on both the cheeks and then shook hands with him. Asif Zardari’s son Bilawal was clad in dark blue shalwar and long kurta while both his sisters were wearing shalwar kameez. President Zardari kissed his son and daughters affectionately. Pakistan High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hasan was also present at the main gate of the Presidency. Asif Zardari inspected the guard of honour gracefully with confidence visible on his face.
President Zardari received his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai at the internal gate of the Presidency who had especially come to attend the oath-taking ceremony. The two presidents had brief chat in the pink room on the fifth floor of the Presidency and afterward the visiting president reached the Banquet Hall to watch the ceremony.
Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar and Asifa were received in the hall with deafening slogans by the guests coming from the length and breadth of the country. They were chanting the slogans 'Nara-i-Bhutto, Jiye Bhutto, Zinda hai Bibi zinda hai, Bilawal ki Bibi zinda hai, Asifa ki Bibi zinda hai, Bakhtwar ki Bibi zinda hai and Sanam ki Bibi zinda hai.' Sanam Bhutto, the sister of the late Benazir Bhutto, was seen crying throughout the function. Ms Shugufta Jumani, member of the National Assembly led the sloganeering throughout the function. The arrival of President Asif Zardari was announced with bugles and the main door of the banquet hall was opened by the special guards wearing colourful uniform.
Acting President Muhammadmian Soomro, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Mr Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Chief justice of Pakistan entered the hall with him. The president-elect was wearing a nicely tailored navy-blue lined English suit with matching necktie. It resembled the suit that his late father-in-law Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used to wear. Asif Zardari looked very elegant and waved to the guests with a broad smile. The guests again started chanting slogans and they did not even realise that the national anthem had started. Midway through the anthem, they realised and they stood up and became quiet. The ceremony started with a delay of about half an hour.
Earlier, at about one o'clock a TV cameraman while shifting the trolley of his camera ran over a button fitted on the floor that was an indicator for the band to start playing the national anthem. Resultantly, the band started playing the national anthem and it had to be stopped in the midway because the president had not then arrived for the ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony started with the recitation from the Holy Qura’an after the arrival of the president. President Zardari shook hands with the chief justice, Muhammadmian Soomro and Prime Minister Gilani after taking oath and signing it. He kissed the prime minister after embracing him. On this the friends of the president and workers of the PPP again started raising slogans but this time again the national anthem was playing and the sloganeering was on.
The three services chiefs met the president in the pink room and they felicitated Asif Ali Zardari on assuming his office. Asif Zardari has become the first civilian president in more than ten years who has moved in the magnificent Presidency.
PPP workers stormed the outer gates of the Presidency and climbed over it but they could not cross the main gate and returned without creating any untoward situation.
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