Pakistan's President Swears in New Prime Minister

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Musharrif may face insuperable problems if the ruling coalition should re-instate the ousted justices as seems likely. The People's Party coalition can hardly make a deal with Musharraf without alienating its partner in the coalition. Sharif's party was consistent in supporting the justices whereas Bhutto's party waffled. U.S. policy may face resistance from Sharif.

Pakistan's President Swears in New Prime Minister
By Steve Herman
Islamabad
25 March 2008


Pakistan's president has sworn in a political enemy as prime minister. Meanwhile, two top U.S. State Department officials have arrived in the country for talks with the embattled president and the new government leaders. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from Islamabad.


President Pervez Musharraf greets newly-elected Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani after swearing-in ceremony, 25 Mar 2008
At exactly noon, stone-faced President Pervez Musharraf, administered the oath of office to a the new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, who spent more than four years in jail under Mr. Musharraf's rule.

"May Allah Almighty help and guide me, Amen," the president said.

"May Allah Almighty help and guide me, Amen," Mr. Gilani repeated.

Some supporters of the prime minister then began chanting "Long Live Bhutto."

If she had not been assassinated on December 27, it is possible former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto would have been the one taking the oath of office.

Her Pakistan Peoples Party swept to victory on a wave of sympathy in last month's
elections. The runner-up party, led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has joined the party of his rival, the late Ms. Bhutto, to form an anti-Musharraf coalition.

Pakistan's evolving political framework throws into doubt the level of the country's future cooperation with the United States on confronting terrorism. Mr. Musharraf has been a staunch ally of Washington in the global anti-terrorism campaign.

Just hours before Tuesday's midday ceremony, two top envoys of the United States arrived in Pakistan. John Negroponte and Richard Boucher are in the country for meetings with top Pakistani officials. Negroponte is deputy secretary of state. Boucher is assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs.

They met Tuesday morning with former Prime Minister Sharif, a key player in the new coalition. The American officials are also expected to talk with the president, as well as the new prime minister.

A showdown is looming between the new government and the president concerning the judiciary. The coalition has pledged to restore to the bench judges removed last year by the president. But the replacement Supreme Court has ruled the dismissals of
their predecessors to be constitutional.

After his selection by parliament, the new prime minister immediately freed the ousted
judges, who had been under house arrest for more than four months.