Asif Zardari swearing-in today

ISLAMABAD " PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will take oath as President of Pakistan at a ceremony on Tuesday morning at the Presidency. The President-elect has already moved to the Aiwan-e-Sadr along with his daughters with all the due protocol. Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar will administer the oath of the President that most of the electronic media would telecast live from the Presidency. President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai is scheduled to fly in from Kabul to attend his new Pakistani counterpart's oath-taking ceremony. Among others invited to the simple but graceful ceremony include the Federal Cabinet members, governors, Forces Chiefs, dignitaries, senior journalists, and diplomats. The President-elect is also scheduled to address a press conference after the oath-taking at the Presidency. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will attend the oath-taking ceremony as the party Quaid Nawaz Sharif is to leave for England today. Monday was Zardari's first day in Presidency after he won Saturday's election with a wide margin against his competitors. He drove from the Prime Minister House after having a meeting with PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif there, to the Presidency with the protocol of a President. The smiling new President was flanked by both of his daughters Bhakhtawar and Asifa, when he stepped out of the Presidential limousine in the porch of the Presidency. Two black goats were sacrificed as a religious ritual to do away with the shadow of evil from the President-elect. According to sources close to the President-elect, Zardari maintained his daily routine as he used to do earlier at Zardari House in F-8 Sector, and later on at the Prime Minister's House even after shifting to the Presidency on Monday. The sources added that he had planned to lower the grandeur of the Presidency towards humility and paucity.         More than bothering about the oath-taking, the sources said, Zardari had been working hard on his upcoming China visit, which would be of an extraordinary importance for Pakistan. Although Karazai is visiting solely for attending the oath-taking ceremony, the sources said, Zardari would discuss a host of issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan especially the border security and fight against terror on both sides. "More than playing as a bossy President meddling in the domestic matters, Zardari would be assisting and guiding the government on foreign affairs," the sources said. He has a mission since his days in jail to build a new image of the country as progressive and democratic nation, the sources added. Online adds: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif will fly to London along with his wife Kulsoom Nawaz from here today. According to a private TV Channel, Nawaz would leave for London at about 11:00am for medical checkup of his wife. Dr Adnan is also accompanying him. He will stay in London for five days. PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif will say farewell to Nawaz Sharif and wife Kulsoom Nawaz at Lahore Airport. Similarly, PML-N delegation comprising leaders of the party will participate the oath-taking ceremony of President-elect Asif Ali Zardari. 

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