Legislators Elect a New President

Rafiq Tarar, a former high court justice who has been criticized by liberals as being a rigid Muslim, swept a vote by legislators to be elected Pakistan’s new president. He was nominated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Tarar said he considers himself a “liberal Muslim.” He supports segregated education for girls and boys and purdah--life behind the veil--for women. Opposition politicians call him Sharif’s puppet. The mostly ceremonial job of president became vacant Dec. 2 after Farooq Leghari resigned to protest a dispute between Sharif and a Supreme Court chief justice who has since been removed. Tarar was to be sworn in today, but he could be disqualified by the Lahore High Court in a Jan. 12 hearing for statements allegedly made against the judiciary.