Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani took the oath as the country’s 23rd prime minister on Tuesday. President Pervez Musharraf administered the oath to the newly elected prime minister at Aiwan-e-Sadr in an impressive ceremony attended by prominent political leaders and high-ranking military and civil personalities.
President Pervez Musharraf has now earned the unique distinction of administering the oath of office to five prime ministers since 2002. The first was Zafarullah Khan Jamali in 2002, followed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz in 2004, and Muhammedmian Soomro as caretaker prime minister in 2007.
As Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, attired in a black Sherwani, took oath, PPP leaders led by Senator Dr Babar Awan raised slogans of "Jeay Bhutto!" and "Charon Soobon Ki Zanjeer Benazir Benazir!"
Top PPP PML-N, ANP and JUI-F leaders, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not attend the ceremony.
A PPP delegation comprising party Secretary-General Jahangir Badr, Senator Babar Awan, Senator Farooq Naek, Dr Rehman Malik, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Murtaza Satti and Dr Ikhtiar Baig, however, attended the function.
PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi were conspicuous by their absence. However, an MQM delegation led by its parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar was present to witness the ceremony. After the ceremony, President Pervez Musharraf congratulated the new prime minister and expressed the hope that he would work for the best interests of the country.
More than 500 people were invited to the ceremony. Those who attended included former caretaker prime minister Mohammadmian Soomro, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Air Staff Tanvir Mehmud, Naval Chief Admiral Afzal Tahir, Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar, First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, provincial governors, chief ministers and other senior Army and civil officials.
Gilani will undergo a vote of confidence from the National Assembly on March 29. Meanwhile, talking to media men along with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr after the oath-taking ceremony, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday stressed the need for unity among political forces to effectively confront challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the country.
"I would like to contribute in unifying all political forces for the betterment of the country," President Musharraf said. "Parliament comprises the president, the National Assembly and Senate, therefore, we will have to strengthen parliament and ensure its supremacy so that we could take the nation out of present predicament jointly as during my parliamentary career I have learnt one thing: to strengthening institutions of the country," Gilani said.
Meanwhile, talking to newsmen, President Musharraf said there are many challenges the country is facing today, including fight against terrorism and economic issues. He described the oath-taking of Prime Minister Gilani as a historic day and said the country has entered the last and final phase of transition to a complete civilian rule, which would be completed with the formation of provincial governments soon.
The president congratulated Yousuf Raza Gilani on his election as the prime minister. He also congratulated the whole nation in this regard. He hoped the new prime minister would work for the socioeconomic development of the people and he would always have his support in this regard.
He underlined the need for adopting a balanced approach by the new government in overcoming these challenges and said the prime minister will have a central role in this regard. Replying to a question, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said he would announce the first 100-day plan on the floor of the House after taking vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
The prime minister thanked the nation for the trust it has reposed in the political parties.He said he was grateful to the nation and proud of his country and the people. "We would live for Pakistan and die for Pakistan," he added.
He said the nation has given a split mandate and all political forces will have to unite on one platform to take the country forward and overcome all challenges."We will have to take the country out of all crises, and for this purpose the government would need support from all sections of the society."
To a question, Gilani said the government would look forward to cooperation from all, including the president.He said the country is passing through a critical phase and stands at a crossroad, and to overcome challenges we need support from everyone.
"I would take along all allied parties and evolve a unanimous strategy to deliver (the goods)," he added.The prime minister said the nation has pinned great expectations on the new government. "God forbid there would be great disappointment if the government fails to deliver," he added.
In reply to a question about promoting harmony among state institutions, he said power of each state organ has been clearly defined in the Constitution and there will be no conflict if we follow the Constitution.He said the difficulties could be overcome if the media, parliament, judiciary, bureaucracy and Army play their constitutionally defined roles.
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