In a report about Zardari’s swearing in as president, The Nation (September 10) says “Asif Ali Zardari has been sworn in as 12th president of Pakistan at a ceremony in Islamabad here on Tuesday ... PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Asifa Bhutto Zardari and Sanam Bhutto were also present in the ceremony...”

The News (September 10) in a more detailed report about Zardari’s swearing in says “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”.

After taking over as president Zardari made an important reference to Kashmir, while addressing a joint press conference with Hamid Karzai. The Nation quotes, “We would proceed on the fast lane towards the resolution of the matter. It would be a process carried out entirely by the Parliament... The Kashmir Committee of the parliament would be constituted soon, which would take it up shortly and you would hear a good news in this regard within a months time from now,”

A.R. Khan in The Nation feels that rather that those who question Zardari’s reputation and election should gracefully accept the fact that “President Zardari has been exonerated of any corruption by the courts for they have not convicted him once. He has been exonerated by the people of Pakistan by electing as the President of Pakistan and PPP to the supreme position”. Ikram Sehgal in The News says, “while an opposition is the requirement of democracy, this is the first time after 1973 that the politicians are at least being civil and talking to each other, not being held hostage to personal motivations or ego trips”. Sehgal concludes by saying, “For the sake of Pakistan we must circle the wagons behind President Asif Ali Zardari! There was a time to fight, now is the time to unite”. Asad Umar in The News (September 10) makes the point that greater emphasis should be laid on institution building rather than one individual. S.M. Naseem in Dawn feels that this is Zardari’s last chance to redeem his reputation. He concludes, “ It is to be hoped that, as promised, he will not pursue a policy of vendetta ... and will help realise the Bhutto dream of roti, kapra aur makaan which has become ever more distant in the last decade”.

... contd.