Pakistan 'survivor' Asif Zardari wins presidency, capping tense polls

Resistance to granting PTI-backed lawmakers reserved seats called 'mockery' of law

20240308 Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari (R) greeting newly-elected Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Asif Ali Zardari, right, greets Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the legislature on March 3. Zardari was elected president on March 9. © AFP/Jiji

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

March 9, 2024 18:10 JST

Updated on March 9, 2024 21:53 JST

ISLAMABAD -- Veteran politician Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was voted the country's president on Saturday, the culmination of an election season marred by allegations of rigging against the allies of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.