ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari was given a farewell guard of honour in Islamabad on Sunday, Express News reported.
Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the beleaguered Pakistans Peoples Party (PPP), steps down as the president today, having defied expectations by holding onto power for a record five years.
He will be heading to Lahore after departing from the President House.
He presided over the only civilian government in Pakistan history to complete a full term in office and hand over to another through the ballot box.
His successor is Mamnoon Hussain, a businessman and close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose low-key persona and lack of personal power base puts him in stark contrast to Zardari.
He had earlier said that he will not seek to become prime minister and will instead focus on leading his party after stepping down.
Zardari’s children Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari tweeted as their father stepped down from the presidency.
