ISLAMABAD, March 25: The caretaker Prime Minister, retired Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, was administered the oath of office by President Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony at the Presidency on Monday.

Justice Khoso is the sixth caretaker prime minister of the country.

The ceremony was attended by former prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, three services chiefs, ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and government officials.

Immediately after taking oath of office, Justice Khoso called on President Zardari.

According to President’s spokesman Farhatulah Babar, matters of national interest were discussed at the meeting.

Besides the PPP and ANP, other political parties were not represented at the ceremony although their leaders had been invited by the Presidency.

“We sent invitations to heads of all parliamentary parties, but I think they were busy in their election campaigns,” said the president’s spokesman.

When contacted, PML-Q spokesman Kamil Ali Agha said the reason for the absence of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was that he was busy in some other political activities.

Similarly, a PML-N leader said Mian Nawaz Sharif was attending a public meeting in Mansehra at the time the oath-taking ceremony was held in Islamabad.

The caretaker prime minister was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived at the Prime Minister House after the ceremony.

A contingent of the armed forces presented him a guard of honour.