In an apparent snub to the increasingly isolated Musharraf, Bhutto’s widower, Asif Ali Zardari, and their son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who together lead her party, declined to attend the ceremony at the presidency.
Clad in a black traditional sherwani, Gillani, the country’s 25th Prime Minister and the first premier from the Pakistan People’s Party who is not a member of the Bhutto family, was administered the oath by Musharraf in the central hall of the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency here.
“Long live Bhutto,” one of the guests at the ceremony shouted as Gillani completed his oath.
Musharraf and Gillani shook hands at the end of the ceremony.
The ceremony was delayed by almost an hour as Gillani had gone to Karachi on Monday to attend the wedding of his son and had to rush back to the federal capital on Tuesday morning.
Musharraf’s popularity has largely evaporated over the last year and his political allies were soundly beaten in February 18 elections won by Bhutto’s party, weeks after she was assassinated.
Also invited to the swearing-in was former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party came second to Bhutto’s party in the election, state television said, but he too declined to attend.
The event was attended by outgoing Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro, members of interim government, the governors and caretaker chief ministers of the four provinces, Speaker Fehmida Mirza, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, chiefs of three services, MQM leaders Farooq Sattar and Hyder Abbas Rizvi and PPP leaders Babar Awan, Jehangir Badar and Latif Khosa.
Working with Mush
Gillani on Tuesday said he would strengthen Parliament and work with President Pervez Musharraf to tackle problems confronting the country, a day after taking on the former military ruler by ordering the release of judges sacked and detained during last year’s emergency rule. Gillani made it clear he would work with everyone to tackle pressing issues like the fight against terrorism and Pakistan’s economic problems.
“For this we need the support of everyone. What is Parliament? Parliament is the President, the National Assembly and the Senate. We will work for the supremacy of Parliament so that we can unite to pull the country out of crises.”