From Pakistan, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that a new President has been sworn in few hours ago at a ceremony held in Islamabad.

The new President Mamnoon Hussain replaces Asif Ali Zardari who stood down yesterday after completing his tenure, becoming the first democratically-elected president to complete a full term.

President Hussain is considered as a businessman with close association with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sources disclosed that the post of Pakistani President is ceremonial and those that will occupy it would be elected by members of the provincial and parliament assemblies, but it has little political power.

The swearing-in of Mamnoon Hussain came as leaders of political parties in Pakistan met to discuss the country's security strategy.

The swearing in ceremony was presided over by the Pakistan’s Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudrhry.

The 73 year-Old from Karachi, a former state governor, was a surprise candidate for the ruling PML-N party but once nominated his election was a foregone conclusion, analysts said.

The new President  takes over from Mr Zardari, who received a guard of honour from the armed forces as he ended his term in office on Sunday.

The 58-year-old widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto succeeded former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and agreed to constitutional amendments in 2010 that handed many of the president's powers to the prime minister.