M A I N   N E W S

Sharif sworn in, begins third stint as Pak Prime Minister
* Vows to take all forces along
* Calls for end to US drone strikes
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday scripted history on being elected to an unprecedented third term as Pakistan’s Prime Minister. President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath of office to Nawaz in a glittering ceremony at the Presidency.

On arrival, Zardari received Sharif and held a brief one-on-one meeting. Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was routed in the May 11 elections after a disastrous five-year rule.

The ceremony was attended by several hundred guests. They included two former premiers Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, lawmakers, prominent politicians, services chiefs and diplomats. Zardari’s daughters Assefa and Bakhtawar and Sharif’s family were also present.

About 14 years ago, Sharif was overthrown by Gen Pervez Musharraf, jailed and convicted to life term on charge of “hijacking” Musharraf’s plane but then sent to 10-year exile in Saudi Arabia following intervention by the Saudi and US governments.

Sharif got 244 votes against his rivals —PPP’s Makhdoom Amin Fahim (44 votes) and PTI’s Javed Hashmi (31 votes) in the 342-member house.

Addressing the Assembly after being elected Leader of the House, Sharif pledged to take along all political forces in the country in an endeavour to confront myriad challenges faced by the country.

He said democracy is the only way forward and counted energy, faltering economy, terrorism, foreign and domestic debt, violence in Karachi, insurgency in Balochistan and tribal belts bordering Afghanistan as some of the daunting problems he would have to tackle.

return after 14 years

• Sharif, served as premier during 1990-1993 and 1997-1999
• He was ousted from office before he could complete his term - once on corruption charges and later because of a military coup
• After spending the past five years in the opposition, Sharif led his PML-N party to victory in the May 11 general elections.
• He was elected by an overwhelming majority, polling 244 votes in the 342-member House.

Democracy only way forward: Sharif

• Sharif said democracy was the only way forward and counted bad economy, terrorism and insurgency as some of the key problems.
• Vowed to fulfil the mandate entrusted upon him by the people of Pakistan, restore its economy and respect in the world.
• Did not touch upon any foreign policy issue and relations with neighbours
• Said US drone attacks breached the sovereignty of the country.