PAKISTAN: RAFIQ TARAR ELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT скачать в хорошем качестве

PAKISTAN: RAFIQ TARAR ELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT

(31 Dec 1997) English/Nat Pakistan has elected a new president for the nation. Rafiq Tarar swept the voting in the National Assembly, Senate and three of the four provincial legislatures, including the key Punjab Assembly. But critics are labelling the new President as a rigid Islamist and a "puppet", of Prime Minister Sharif who nominated Tarar for the post. Voting began on Wednesday morning for a new President for Pakistan. Rafiq Tarar was among seven presidential candidates for the mostly ceremonial post which became vacant on December 2, 1997 after former President Farooq Leghari resigned. SOUNDBITE: (English) '243 votes yes - National Assembly and Senate - 239 required. Results from the provincial assemblies have yet to be received - Thank you' SUPER CAPTION: Rafiq Tarar - President elect of Pakistan Tarar, a former justice of the Lahore High Court, has been criticized by liberals as a rigid Islamist and attacked by opposition politicians as a "puppet" of Prime Minister Sharif. Leader of the Pakistan People's Party and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was amongst the members of parliament voting on Wednesday morning. She was joined by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, allowed out of prison for the vote. The main opposition candidate was Aftab Shahban Mirani, of the Pakistan People's Party - who won only 39 votes in the two houses of parliament. Opposition politicians and human-rights workers say that Tarar's election does not bode well for the rights of women or minorities in Pakistan. Concern has also been expressed for his conduct during his time served as a jurist - he has been challenged in the courts for statements allegedly made against the judiciary. SOUNDBITE: (English) 'As far as Mr Tarar is concerned we have nothing against him personally - but as far as his political stance has been concerned this has caused us a lot of concern. Number one he has criticized the conduct of the judges - you can't criticize conduct of the judges. Number two he has admitted to criticizing the conduct of judges. Number three he has been accused by the former President of trying to influence the judges. And number four, he has very narrow minded views with regard to the minorities and women and children, which is a matter of great concern to us' SUPER CAPTION: Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistani People's Party On Tuesday, the Lahore High Court adjourned until January 12 a hearing to decide whether Tarar's alleged comments would disqualify him from the presidency. If the court rules against Tarar, another presidential election would be held, government officials said. Tarar is a member of Pakistan's Tableeqi movement, which is devoted to preaching Islam worldwide. Tarar has described himself as a "liberal Muslim" who supports segregated education for girls and boys and purdah, or life behind the veil, for women. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...