Violence as Bhutto's widower sweeps to victory in Pakistan election

Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's controversial widower and political heir, is to be sworn in as Pakistan's new President after his landslide victory yesterday in an indirect election to succeed Pervez Musharraf.

Members of the national and regional assemblies voted to make Mr Zardari the country's head of state. Members of his ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) cheered when the result was announced, as if the outcome had been in doubt. "Long live Bhutto" and "BB is alive" were among the slogans chanted in tribute to the slain former prime minister, whose two tearful daughters – sitting in the parliamentary gallery – smiled and embraced their friends.

Mr Zardari, who once carried the nickname "Mr 10 Per Cent" because of corruption allegations he has always denied, said: "To those who would say that the People's Party or the presidency would be controversial under our guardianship, under our stewardship, I would say: 'Listen to democracy'."

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His triumph had been widely expected since he announced his candidacy two weeks ago, and was assured by the PPP's commanding position in parliament and three of the four provincial assemblies. It marks a remarkable transformation in the fortunes of Mr Zardari and in the political landscape of Pakistan.

Less than a year ago Mr Musharraf, who resigned last month, held a dominant position, and Mr Zardari appeared to have been overlooked by his party's hierarchy as his wife led its parliamentary election campaign. Her assassination in December and the PPP's emergence after February's elections as the largest party, catapulted her widowed husband to the forefront of Pakistan's political turmoil.

Ahead of yesterday's voting, posters celebrating the victory were fastened to lamp posts along Islamabad's Constitution Avenue, which runs past the prime minister's house, Parliament, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace where Mr Zardari will now live. All these institutions are now under the control of Mr Zardari, thanks to the wide-ranging powers with which his predecessor endowed the presidency. These include the right to appoint judges, sack army chiefs, and dissolve parliament.

Mr Zardari, who has spent more time in prison than parliament, is "the most powerful civilian president one can imagine," said Talat Masood, a retired general turned analyst. "It is an extraordinary irony today that, of all people, Asif Zardari has come to wield so much power."

But Mr Zardari also faces immense challenges. Pakistan's economic prospects are grim, with galloping inflation, electricity shortages, falling growth and rising unemployment.

There was also a brutal reminder yesterday of the threat posed by militants as 17 people were killed and 80 injured in the city of Peshawar after a truck laden with explosives rammed into a police checkpost. Another 24 people died in a gun battle in the same region after an attempted kidnapping by militants. Mr Zardari has said that defeating the "domestic Taliban insurgency" will be a priority for him.

However, Mr Masood said: "I doubt very much if they have any genuine policy except that which the US has demanded. To be fair, there are no easy solutions. The people so far see it as an American war. And the recent American intrusions have left people asking if they are supporting Pakistan or invading it."

Public hostility towards Washington deepened last week when US special forces launched an unprecedented commando raid in South Waziristan, killing a number of civilians, according to the Pakistan military.

But for PPP supporters, yesterday, at least, was a day to celebrate. "Zardari's victory will strengthen democracy," declared Tahir Raja, a businessman. To emphasise his point, he reached for metaphors related to Islamabad's weather, where a minor earthquake was yesterday followed by heavy rain. "As soon as the first votes were cast, the tremors came and lightning filled the sky as a sign that change has come."