WORLD : New Pakistani Leader Sworn In
Nawaz Sharif, a conservative industrialist and Benazir Bhutto’s chief rival, was sworn in today as prime minister of Pakistan’s fifth freely elected government in 43 years.
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan administered the oath of office to the 41-year-old Sharif in a 10-minute ceremony attended by 600 guests, including Bhutto, other politicians, military leaders and bureaucrats.
Earlier today, the National Assembly elected Sharif prime minister after a brief walkout by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Bhutto, who demanded a secret ballot.
Sharif, whose Islamic Democratic Alliance soundly defeated Bhutto in the Oct. 24 election, sounded a conciliatory note.
“The government and opposition should join hands to help the country’s poor,” he said. “For the prosperity of the country we have to join hands.”
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