Yousuf Raza Gillani was on Tuesday sworn in as Pakistan's new prime minister by President Pervez Musharraf at a ceremony boycotted by top leaders of the ruling coalition.
Clad in a black traditional sherwani, Gillani, the country's 25th prime minister and the first premier from the Pakistan People's Party who is not a member of the Bhutto family, was administered the oath by Musharraf in the central hall of the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency in Islamabad.
PPP leaders shouted Jiay Bhutto (Long live Bhutto) as the oath was completed.
Gillani, 55, was on Monday elected the prime minister by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly or lower House of Parliament.
PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, the two key leaders of the parties that have formed Pakistan's new coalition government, did not attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Zaradri's teenaged son Bilawal, who was named PPP chairman after Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a pre-poll rally in December, too was conspicuous by his absence.
Musharraf shook hands with Gillani and spoke to him briefly before joining the guests.
The event was attended by outgoing Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro, members of interim government, the governors and caretaker chief ministers of the four provinces, Speaker Fehmida Mirza, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, chiefs of three services, MQM leaders Farooq Sattar and Hyder Abbas Rizvi and PPP leaders Babar Awan, Jehangir Badar and Latif Khosa.
Members of Gillani's cabinet are likely to be inducted in phases as the PPP and its allies are still to finalise the division of ministers.
The first batch of ministers is likely to be administered the oath by Musharraf later this week after Gillani obtains a vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
Reportage: Rezaul H Laskar | Photograph: Farooq Naeem/Getty Images
