ISLAMABAD: Notwithstanding PPP’s boycott of the presidential election, President Asif Ali Zardari, who is co-chairman of the party, felicitated Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday on his election as the 12th president of the country.

“In his message of felicitation President Zardari wished the president-elect well in the discharge of his responsibilities as head of the federation,” president’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said.

He said the election of new president was another major step towards smooth transfer of power in a democratic dispensation which was a good augury for democracy.

“All our efforts should be geared towards strengthening democracy and the federation,” President Zardari said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also congratulated Mr Hussain and expressed the hope that he would come up to people’s expectations and the trust that their representatives had reposed in him.

PTI chairman Imran Khan also felicitated the president-elect but expressed concern over the change of schedule of the election and termed it non-transparent.

Mr Khan said in a statement: “President is a symbol of federation and we hope that Mamnoon Hussain will rise above his political affiliation while performing his duties as head of the state.”

MQM chief Altaf Hussain also felicitated the newly elected president and Mr Sharif.