ISLAMABAD: PPP candidate Asif Ali Zardari won the presidential election by securing 481 votes, said Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd.) Qazi Muhammad Farooq. The CEC announcing the official results of the presidential election here on Saturday, said Pakistan Muslim League-N candidate Justice (Retd.) Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui secured 153 votes while PML-Q candidate Mushahid Hussain Sayed bagged 44 votes....more

LONDON: Britain vowed Saturday to work closely with new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to promote stability and fight the "shared threat of violent extremism" in the country, a key ally of the West. In a statement hours after Zardari secured a large win in presidential polls, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he looked "forward to working closely with President Zardari to further deepen our partnership with Pakistan." "We want to work with the government to support measures that promote stability, democracy and the rule of law and strengthen the democratic transition," Miliband said. "We believe that Pakistan''s people are best served by a democratic government, and that strong democratic institutions are the key to delivering long-term stability, good governance and prosperity." He added: "The United Kingdom stands ready to assist the government in combating the shared threat of violent extremism and meeting the economic challenges they face. "And we remain strongly committed to our partnership with the Pakistani people, notably through our aid programme." Zardari, elected nine months after the assassination of his wife and former premier Benazir Bhutto, becomes the 14th president in Pakistan''s short but turbulent history....more

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on his victory in Pakistan''s presidential poll Saturday and said he hoped this would herald an upturn in relations between the Islamic neighbours. Zardari secured a large win in the presidential elections called after Pervez Musharraf, with whom Karzai had an uneasy relationship, resigned on August 18. "Hamid Karzai, besides congratulating the Pakistan''s People''s Party (PPP) over their victory in the election, wished success for Asif Ali Zardari," a statement from the Afghan leader''s office said. "The president of Afghanistan hoped that Afghanistan-Pakistan relations improve further in different aspects under the presidency of Mr Zardari and stability is established in the region through bilateral efforts," it added....more

WASHINGTON: The United States Saturday congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on his win in Pakistan''s presidential vote, the White House said in a statement. "President (George W.) Bush looks forward to working with him, Prime Minister Gillani, and the government of Pakistan on issues important to both countries, including counterterrorism and making sure Pakistan has a stable and secure economy," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said....more

ISLAMABAD: Newly elected President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari has said that the ‘president will be subservient to the Parliament”. Asif Zardari, flanked by his daughters, Bakhtawar and Asifa, was addressing an Iftar reception here at Prime Minister House on Saturday. He said representation of 99 per cent population elected the new president and those who have reservations on the holding of two positions i.e. Co-chairman of Pakistan people’s Party and President of the country should respect this mandate. “Democracy talks while others'' only hear,” he said. Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly, Dr. Fahimda Mirza and other leaders of PPP were present on the occasion....more

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman and newly elected President of the country Asif Ali Zardari has thanked the nation for his election to the coveted post. In a statement issued here on Saturday, President Zardari pledged to strengthen the federation. “It was Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s dream to see elimination of dictatorship from the Presidency which has come true,” he remarked. The President said constitutional amendments will be made in a bid to strike balance between Presidency and Parliament. Referring to the successful holding of presidential election, he said it is reflective of the presence of best political and democratic atmosphere in the country....more

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday termed September 6 as historic day in the Parliamentary history of the country. Talking to journalists here at the Parliament House, he hoped that Asif Zardari would work for strengthening of democratic institutions in the country. About restoration of constitution, he said the PPP would restore it in its original form, adding it would help restore stability in the political system. Responding to a query, he said that a comprehensive national foreign policy would be formulated soon. He further said his ministry has prepared an appraisal of the foreign policy and experts on foreign policy would be invited for their input. In this regard, he has already approached Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari, he said....more

LAHORE: Member, Federal Council of Pakistan Peoples Party Abdul Qadir Shaheen, secretary finance Punjab Aurangzeb Burki, Peoples Labor Bureau''s central spokesman secretary information Muhammad Salim Mughal, felicitating party''s presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari for his victory with thumping majority in Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies, said that its credit goes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and party leaders'' strategy due to which PPP succeeded to regain 1970''slike position in elections. In a statement here Saturday the PPP leaders said that after historic success of Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential elections his rivals as per their tall claims were not in position to face the nation. They said that the political quandary created by the vested interests was harmful for the country''s solidarity, therefore, PPP as per its policy always tried to reconcile on issues of national importance. The PPP, they said, had roots among the masses and it would fulfill all promises it had made with them and would try its level best to give reality to dreams of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for making Pakistan a welfare democratic state. They said that Asif Ali Zardari who was trying to strengthen the federation, would complete the mission of Shaheed BB and bring the country out from challenges facing to its internal and external affairs. His success in presidential elections would help the common people to play a pivotal role in re-building confidence on public institutions, they said....more

ISLAMABAD: Leader of PPP-Sherpao, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that election of Asif Ali Zardari as President of Pakistan would bring political stability in the country. Talking to media persons here Saturday at the Parliament House, hesaid his party voted in favour of PPP''s presidential candidate AsifAli Zardari as a gesture of respect for its public mandate. ``It was right of PPP to field its candidate for the Office of President as it secured mass mandate in the February 18 general elections,'''' Sherpao added. He said that PPP enjoys support in the center and the four provinces, therefore, election of its leader Asif Zardari as President would ensure stability and coordination between all the federating units. He said his party had supported PPP only on issue of Presidential Election and would look forward to support PPP government on issues of public interest in future too. Sherpao noted law and order situation in his home province NWFP and FATA was deteriorating day by day, so the government should take measures to tackle it on priority. ``The policy of previous government on war against terror needs to be reviewed to correct the faults,'''' Sherpao, who was minister of interior affairs in the previous regime, he said....more

ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari''s win in the presidential election on Saturday is "a victory for democracy," the Pakistan People''s Party said. "It is a historic win. It is a victory for democracy," said Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman said. "This man suffered jail for more than 11 years for the sake of democracy and today he is elected as the president of the country and it is a sign of the strengthening of democracy."...more