Tears and rejoicing as Bhutto aide is elected premier

Published on Monday 24 March 2008 21:49

THERE were tearful scenes in Pakistan's parliament yesterday as a close aide of the murdered opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, was elected the new prime minister.

Minutes after Yousaf Raza Gilani was voted in, he pledged to free the judges detained on the orders of the president, Pervez Musharraf.

That prompted celebrations outside the home of the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who was sacked when the president declared a state of emergency in November.

Dozens of political activists and lawyers climbed over a wall surrounding the house, and Mr Chaudhry emerged smiling on to a balcony in his first public appearance since his house arrest more than four months ago.

"I have no words to thank you for the way you struggled for nearly five months for the enforcement of the rule of law and our constitution," Mr Chaudhry said.

The new government has promised to reinstate Mr Chaudhry and other senior judges within 30 days – a move that could trigger a power struggle with Mr Musharraf. Some believe it could prompt him to resign.

The new prime minister will form a government dominated by Mr Musharraf's foes, who have vowed to slash the president's powers.

Mr Gilani was elected by a vote of 264 to 42. He immediately shook hands with Mrs Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who wiped tears from his face and smiled.

His mother was killed in a suicide attack in December.

In his first words as premier, Mr Gilani told MPs: "Democracy has been revived due to the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto." He called for a United Nations investigation into her assassination.