DHAKA: Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari is stepping down at the end of his five year term, becoming the first democratically elected president in the country’s history to complete his full tenure in office.

His spokesman Farhatullah Babar says the presidency is holding a farewell ceremony on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

Zardari rose to power after assassination of his wife, prime minister Benazir Bhutto, in a gun and bomb attack in Dec 2007.

Analysts count his government’s completion of a full term in a hostile political environment to his credit, as well as his strong stance against Islamic militancy.

BDST: 1452 HRS, SEPT 08, 2013
RoR/RIS