Pakistan’s former president Asif Ali Zardari, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, was elected president of Pakistan today, returning to a mostly honorary position he held between 2008 and 2013, the Election Commission announced.

Zardari received 411 votes to 181 for the opposition-backed candidate, in a vote by the electoral college, which is made up of members of parliament and four provincial councils.

His election to the country’s presidency was seen as undisputed, as it was foreseen as part of an agreement reached after parliamentary and regional elections on February 8, which were marred by serious allegations of irregularities.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which he co-chairs with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has reached an agreement to form a coalition government with its arch-rival, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Shebaz Sharif.

Based on the agreement, Sebaz Sharif was elected on March 3 as prime minister and the presidency was promised to 68-year-old Asif Ali Zardari.

Independent candidates, backed by the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August, were the winners of the election, despite a crackdown by the authorities against them.

The PTI alleged widespread rigging, initiated by the powerful armed forces, and declared a far wider victory. But his refusal of any alliance left the field open to his main rivals.