Washington, Sep 9 :The US hopes that Pakistan’s new President Asif Ali Zardari will provide some stability within the government so that it can get down to the task of countering the terrorism and extremism that currently threatens the country.

Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, America’s leading conservative think tank, is of the view that for the last several months, political infighting has created a power vacuum in Pakistan that the extremists have exploited.

Islamabad - Asif Ali Zardari was set to take the oath of office Tuesday as president of Pakistan after his weekend election, officials said.

"Mr Zardari will be sworn in in a ceremony to be held at the President House around 1 pm [0700 GMT] today," his party's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Tuesday.

Abdul Hamid Dogar, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, is to administer the oath.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and foreign diplomats based in Islamabad were expected to attend the ceremony.

Islamabad, Sept 8

Islamabad, Sep 8  The meeting between Pakistan’s new President-elect Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif ended at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Monday.

Sharif felicitated Zardari for becoming the president of Pakistan and assured him of full cooperation as opposition.

The PML-N said it would play constructive role for promoting democratic norms as opposition.

Islamabad, Sep 8 : The new President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, will have to face five major challenges posed by rising militancy, a failing economy, fledgling democracy, conflict with India, and his own personal safety.

Islamabad, Sep 8 : Pakistan’s new President elect Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated that Parliament is Supreme and that the President is subservient to the upper and lower houses, promising to empower parliament with greater authority.

Asif Ali Zardari said his victory in the recent Presidential election was the victory of democracy, The News reported.