ISLAMABAD, Sept 6 (APP): Asif Ali Zardari Saturday routed his opponents from PML-N and PML-Q, in the presidential election with a pledge to strengthen democracy, bring political harmony and wipe out terrorism from the country, as its next President. According to the unofficial result out of 702 Asif Ali Zardari secured 479 votes, of which he got 281 from Parliament, 22 from Punjab, 64 from Sindh, 59 from Balochistan and 56 from NWFP.

Justice retired Saeeduzaman Siddique got 153 and Mushahid Hussain got 43 votes.

Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, contested the election after resignation of President Pervez Musharraf on August 18.

As the Parliament building reverberated with vociferous slogans of “Jeye Bhutto” and “Zinda hae BiBi zinda hae”, raised by the parliamentarians and joined by those in the galleries, the Chief Election Commissioner announced the unofficial results, placing Zardari far ahead of his rivals.

In the Parliament Zardari secured 281 votes, 111 by Justice (Retd) Saeeduzaman Siddique and 34 by Mushahid Hussain Sayed, out of 436 total votes, of which ten were declared invalid.

He also blitzkrieged through the polls in the provincial assemblies of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan.

Asif Ali Zardari secured 123 in Punjab Assembly, 162 in Sindh Assembly, 107 in NWFP, and 59 in Balochistan Assembly.

His rival Justice (Retd) Saeeduzaman Siddique got 201 votes in Punjab Assembly, none from Sindh, 10 from NWFP and 2 from Balochistan Assembly.

Mushahid Hussain got 36 from Punjab Assembly, none from Sindh, 3 from NWFP and 2 from Balochistan Assembly.

The voting was held through a secret ballot in the Parliament and the four provincial assemblies simultaneously.

Zardari termed his victory “a success of the people and the democracy” as his young daughters Bakhtawar and Asifa, witnessed the momentous event in the Parliament House from the galleries.

Fizza Gilani, the daughter of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani gave them company.

The women parliamentarians overwhelmed with emotions rushed to the two sisters, hugged them with tears rolling down their eyes.  Party workers waved the tri-colour party flags and photographs of late Benazir Bhutto.

Asif Ali Zardari is likely to take oath of his office as President of Pakistan on September 7, 2008.

Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar will administer him oath of office at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.