Pakistan's newly elected president Asif Ali Zardari met with political leaders on Monday, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, ahead of his official inauguration.

Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the chief opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group, outlined the purpose of this meeting.

"The purpose of this meeting was to set up a new tradition in Pakistan's democracy and politics, that we must accept the victory of the candidate who has won the election and the party which has lost the election must congratulate the winning party, and I think this is in the spirit of the charter of democracy."

Already head of the main ruling party, Zardari is set to become one of the most powerful leaders from a non-military background in Pakistan's 61-year history.

Zardini's rise to Pakistan's top position will mark an incredible journey from jail, exile and the assassination of his wife Benazir Bhutto just nine months ago.