Asif Ali Zardari, Co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), assumed office as the 14th President of Pakistan on Sunday, following his resounding victory in the presidential elections held just a day earlier.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the prestigious Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, where Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath of office to the newly-elected president in a solemn ceremony attended by dignitaries from across the political spectrum.
Among the notable attendees were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, outgoing president Arif Alvi, along with all three service chiefs and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Provincial governors, chief ministers, and foreign diplomats graced the occasion with their presence, highlighting the significance of this historic moment.
Zardari secured a decisive victory in the presidential race, emerging as the joint candidate of the ruling alliance. Backed by allied parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), he garnered an overwhelming 411 electoral votes across parliament and all provincial assemblies.
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His opponent, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), trailed far behind with 181 votes, managing to secure a majority only in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
With 225 votes in the National Assembly and 53 in the Sindh Assembly, Zardari’s victory was resoundingly clear. His track record and extensive political experience, including his previous tenure as the 11th president from 2008 to 2013, underscore his ability to lead the nation effectively.
Born in 1955 and educated in Karachi, Zardari’s political journey has been intertwined with Pakistan’s complex socio-political landscape. Married to the late Benazir Bhutto, daughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Zardari’s presidency marks a significant chapter in Pakistan’s democratic history.
Zardari’s assumption of office signals a transition from Dr. Arif Alvi’s tenure, who extended his term by five months beyond the completion of his five-year tenure in September 2023.
