The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday evening announced the official result of the presidential election and declared People's Party (PPP)Co- chairman Asif Ali Zardari as the new president.

Zardari, widower of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, secured 481 votes from the total number of 702 votes of the electoral college consisting of two houses of the parliament and four provincial assemblies.

According to the constitution, the candidate who has simple majority of the 702 votes will be the next president of the country.

Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, who was fielded by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), bagged 153 votes while Senator Mushahid Hussain, a candidate from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), got 44 votes.

The ECP congratulated Zadari on his winning the presidential election.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)