ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Benazir Bhutto’s widower swept Pakistan’s presidential election on Saturday, offering hope for stability to a nuclear-armed country feeling intense U.S. pressure to crack down on Islamic militants.
Already head of the main ruling party, Zardari becomes one of the most powerful civilian leaders in Pakistan’s turbulent 61-year history. Last month, he marshaled a coalition that forced stalwart U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf to quit as head of state. However, he begins with limited goodwill among a population who recall his nickname, Mr. Ten Percent, for alleged corruption during Bhutto’s two terms in office as prime minister and doubt his political vision and leadership skills.
“We want him to make parliament sovereign and to evolve a clear policy on the war on terror” as well as tackle crippling inflation, said Muhammad Azam, a 33-year-old bank employee from Lahore.
“I want to convey to Zardari that he is not a leader by choice, but by chance. Now he has to prove his worth.”