UK pledge to new Pakistan president

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has comfortably won a vote of Pakistan's two-chamber parliament and four provincial assemblies to find a replacement for Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month after nine years as president.

The scale of the challenge facing Mr Zardari was immediately underscored by a suicide car bomb attack on a police post in the city of Peshawar, which killed 17 people including at least five policemen.

Former businessman Mr Zardari, 53, was thrust into the frontline of Pakistani politics by his wife's assassination last December, weeks after she returned from exile to campaign for the premiership.

His victory in the presidential poll means that Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party now holds the presidency and the post of Prime Minister.

Unofficial figures from the Election Commission in Pakistan gave Mr Zardari 480 out of 702 electoral college votes.

In a statement issued in London in response to his victory, the Foreign Office said: "We look forward to working closely with President Zardari to further deepen our partnership with Pakistan.

"We want to work with the government to support measures that promote stability, democracy and the rule of law and strengthen the democratic transition.

"We believe that Pakistan's people are best served by a democratic government, and that strong democratic institutions are the key to delivering long-term stability, good governance and prosperity.

"The UK stands ready to assist the government in combating the shared threat of violent extremism and meeting the economic challenges they face. And we remain strongly committed to our partnership with the Pakistani people, notably through our aid programme."