Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan, has been sworn in as a civilian president in the country's capital, Islamabad.

Musharraf has lead the country for eight years as president, after seizing power in a bloodless coup.

The ceremony was a broadcast live on national television.

The oath was taken on Thursday at the Aiwan-e-Sadr presidential palace in Islamabad one day after Musharraf stepped down as the head of Pakistan's military.

Wearing a dark traditional tunic, he pledged to uphold the constitution and to do his utmost to preserve and protect the nation.

Abdul Hameed Dogar, the chief justice Musharraf hand-picked after purging the supreme court when he imposed emergency rule on November 3, administered the oath to Musharraf.

PHOTO CAPTION

Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan

Al-Jazeera