World | Pakistan
Moving in the palace
Asif Ali Zardari on Monday moved into the palatial President House here a day before his formal induction as elected head of state for the next five years.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 23:49 September 8, 2008
Islamabad: Asif Ali Zardari on Monday moved into the palatial President House here a day before his formal induction as elected head of state for the next five years.
The Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman shifted to the imposing Aiwan-e-Sadr official residence on the capital's Constitution Avenue along with daughters Bakhtawar and Asefa.
He will be sworn in on Tuesday by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar at a ceremony to be attended by government leaders, judges, armed forces top brass, leaders of political parties, diplomats and senior officials.
Zardari and his daughters walked into the presidency with a copy of Quran held overhead at the main entrance to the white building. The staff greeted him and a couple of black goats were sacrificed on the occasion.
Ahead of his arrival at the presidency, his close relatives and party workers held a Quran-reciting ceremony at the President House on Sunday to seek Allah's blessings.
After the oath-taking a guard of honour will be presented to the new president by an armed forces contingent.
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