Pakistani lawmakers Wednesday chose Rafiq Tarar as the nation's president, selecting a man who has been labeled a "puppet" of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Tarar, indirectly elected by Pakistan's legislators, swept the voting in the National Assembly, Senate and three of the four provincial legislatures, including the key Punjab Assembly.A mostly ceremonial post, the presidency became vacant Dec. 2, after Farooq Leghari resigned to protest a dispute between Sharif and Supreme Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who has since been removed.
Tarar, a former justice of the Lahore High Court, was among seven presidential candidates. Liberals have criticized Tarar's Islamic views as too strict, and opposition politicians have called him Sharif's "puppet."
Tarar also has been challenged in the courts for statements allegedly made against the judiciary. On Tuesday, the Lahore High Court adjourned until Jan. 12 a hearing to decide whether his alleged comments would disqualify him from the presidency. Should the court rule against Tarar, another presidential election would be held, government officials said.
Government ministers have described Tarar as a "moderate Muslim," and his supporters say he will bring greater unity in Islamic Pakistan.