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Zardari of Pakistan Ending His Presidency Zardari of Pakistan Ending His Presidency
(35 minutes later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Asif Ali Zardari stepped down as president of Pakistan on Sunday, achieving the distinction of becoming the first democratically elected head of the state to complete a five-year tenure.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Asif Ali Zardari stepped down as president of Pakistan on Sunday, achieving the distinction of becoming the first democratically elected head of the state to complete a five-year tenure.
Mr. Zardari took oath in Sept, 2008 after General Pervez Musharraf resigned facing the threat of impeachment. Mamnoon Hussain, belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, will take oath as the next president on Monday. Mr. Zardari took oath in September 2008, after Gen. Pervez Musharraf resigned facing the threat of impeachment. Mamnoon Hussain of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will take oath as the next president on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, a contingent of the armed forces gave a guard of honor to Mr. Zardari at the president’s house, a gleaming white marbled building overlooking the capital, at a ceremony that was broadcast live in television news networks. Mr. Zardari, wearing a dark business suit, later left the presidency and is expected to reach Lahore by the evening where he is expected to speak to his followers and party workers. On Sunday afternoon, a contingent of the armed forces gave a guard of honor to Mr. Zardari at the president’s house, a gleaming white marbled building overlooking the capital, at a ceremony that was broadcast live on television news networks. Mr. Zardari, wearing a dark business suit, later departed and was expected to reach Lahore by the evening, where he was to speak to his followers and party workers.
Mr. Zardari has said he plans to re-organize his political party, Pakistan Peoples Party, which lost the May, 2013 elections to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz . However, in an interview to GEO, the country’s most watched news network, Mr. Zardari said he did not have any ambitions to run for the next prime minister of the country. ‘Becoming president is the optimum of politics,’ he said in the interview, during which he portrayed to give a calm and relaxed image, puffing an e-cigarette and feeding his cat. Mr. Zardari has said he plans to reorganize his political party, Pakistan Peoples Party, which lost the elections in May to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. In an interview with GEO, the country’s most watched news network, however, Mr. Zardari said he did not have any ambitions to be the next prime minister of the country. “Becoming president is the optimum of politics,” he said in the interview, during which he portrayed a calm and relaxed image, puffing an e-cigarette and feeding his cat.
Preparations for a political reception Sunday evening at Bialwal House, the residence of Mr. Zardari in Lahore, the eastern city known as the political capital of the country, are in full swing as party leaders and workers started to gather to welcome their leader.Preparations for a political reception Sunday evening at Bialwal House, the residence of Mr. Zardari in Lahore, the eastern city known as the political capital of the country, are in full swing as party leaders and workers started to gather to welcome their leader.
Despite the political landmark of overseeing a democratic transition of power, Zardari’s five year tenure remained tumultuous, riven with controversies and political upheavals. He faced a hostile judiciary, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who constantly challenged his authority. Relations with the powerful military also remained tenuous, falling to their lowest ebb soon after the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. A purported letter written to the American government asking for help to avert a possible military coup led to the removal of Husain Haqqani, a close Zardari ally and ambassador to Washington, DC. Mr. Zardari, himself, survived a nervous breakdown and spent several days in Dubai, undergoing medical treatment. Despite the political landmark of overseeing a democratic transition of power, Mr. Zardari’s five-year tenure remained tumultuous, riven with controversies and political upheavals. He faced a hostile judiciary, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who constantly challenged his authority. Relations with the powerful military also remained tenuous, falling to their lowest point soon after the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. A purported letter written to the American government asking for help to avert a possible military coup led to the removal of Husain Haqqani, a close Zardari ally and ambassador to Washington. Mr. Zardari himself survived a nervous breakdown and spent several days in Dubai, undergoing medical treatment.
Allegations of financial corruption and management dogged his prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was sacked by the Supreme Court after he refused to open a corruption investigation in Switzerland against Mr. Zardari. His replacement, Raja Pervez Ashraf, was also a tainted politician, accused of taking kickbacks in power projects.Allegations of financial corruption and management dogged his prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was sacked by the Supreme Court after he refused to open a corruption investigation in Switzerland against Mr. Zardari. His replacement, Raja Pervez Ashraf, was also a tainted politician, accused of taking kickbacks in power projects.
Crippling power shortages and steadily increasing inflation fuelled anti-PPP sentiment in the country, culminating at the May, 2011 general elections. However, political analysts give credit to Zardari for giving up powers that had been accumulated in the office by former dictators, like having the power to dissolve the government and appointing chiefs of the armed forces. Crippling power shortages and steadily increasing inflation fuelled anti-Pakistan Peoples Party sentiment, culminating at the May 2011 general elections. Political analysts, however, give credit to Mr. Zardari for giving up powers that had been accumulated by former dictators, like having the authority to dissolve the government and appointing chiefs of the armed forces.