Coalition partners entrust Zardari to nominate next PM

Coalition partners say the next prime minister should also be from the PPP. NA session called for June 21.


Web Desk June 19, 2012

ISLAMABAD: All coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) met under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari and handed him the mandate to decide on a candidate for election as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Express News  reported.

The emergency meeting was called after the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani ineligible to hold office. Gilani will not be a member of parliament following the verdict, and his name was also removed from the Press Information Department website.

“The Election Commission shall issue a notice of disqualification and the president is required to take necessary steps to ensure continuation of democratic process,” said Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The election commission subsequently issued a notification declaring Gilani’s membership of the National Assembly as null and void.

The coalition partners said that since the previous Prime Minister belonged to the PPP, the next one too should be from the PPP.

Disqualified Prime Minsiter Gilani too attended the meeting.

Zardari decided to call an emergency session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 21.

Earlier, Express News reported that Senior PPP leader Ahmed Mukhtar said that he heard the party may be nominate him for the post of prime minister.

“I’m not sure about the party’s decision but if the party considers me for the position of prime minister, I would duly serve the country,” he said.

Altaf Hussain phone call

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and President Asif Ali Zardari held a telephonic discussion over the disqualification of Prime Minister late on Tuesday.

A release said that Hussain praised the government's decision to accept the Supreme Court verdict that disqualified Yousaf Raza Gilani as prime minister as a wise one.

COMMENTS (24)

US Khawaja | 11 years ago | Reply Gilani was thrown away but the corruption would remain. No change will be felt. No one possesses power to stop drone attack. What will be the feeling of afia siddiqui on this verdict of SC. Are we senseless.
Mohammad | 11 years ago | Reply

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and President Asif Ali Zardari held a telephonic discussion over the disqualification of Prime Minister late on Tuesday. No wonder these are all working together. AH may have raised his price to support AAZ.

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