Raisi congratulates Zardari on his election as Pakistan’s new president
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on his election as the new president of Pakistan.
In a message on Sunday, Raisi expressed hope that the two countries will further develop mutual relations during Zardari’s presidency given mutual historical, cultural and religious bonds.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as always and especially in the new tenure, announces its readiness to develop relations with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he said.
Zardari, the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, on Sunday was sworn in after winning a second non-consecutive term.
He previously served as president from 2008 until 2013.
Pakistan’s newly formed National Assembly, as the lower house of parliament is called, on March 3 elected Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister for the second time by 201 votes, presiding over a shaky alliance that has shut out followers of jailed opposition leader and former prime minister Imran Khan.