Karzai to attend Zardaris oath-taking ceremony

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will attend the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistans president-elect Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.

Islamabad, Sep 8 : Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will attend the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan's president-elect Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.

"The Pakistani president invited him to take part in the oath-taking ceremony to be held in Islamabad soon", and Karzai has accepted the invitation, Dawn reported.

According to a statement issued by Karzai's office, the Afghan President telephoned Zardari to congratulate him on winning the September 6 presidential election.

The statement said Karzai had accepted the invitation expressing hope that relationship between the two neighbouring countries would improve.

Relations between Karzai and former president Pervez Musharraf remained tense due to Kabul accusing Islamabad of not doing enough in the war on terror.

Cabinet division secretary Ghiasuddin told Dawn that the ceremony would be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.

Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar will administer the oath. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three services chiefs, governors and chief ministers of the provinces, federal ministers, senior leaders of the Pakistan People's Party, representatives of other parties in parliament and diplomats are expected to attend the ceremony.

The cabinet division geared up for the ceremony after receiving Election Commission's notification of Zardari's success in the presidential polls.

"A copy of the notification was delivered at the residence of the secretary of the cabinet division on Monday night," Election Commission secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad said.

However, a source in the PPP claimed that the date had been set because nine was Zardari's lucky number and Tuesday is 9/9.

ANI