WikiLeaks: US considered all People's Party PM contenders weak

US Embassy considered all PPP contenders for prime minister's slot to be weak and incapable to lead Pakistan in 2008.

WikiLeaks reveals that the US Embassy considered all PPP contenders for the prime minister's slot to be weak and incapable to lead Pakistan in 2008.

The serious initial contenders for the position included Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Aftab Shaban Mirani.

In the US diplomatic cable, Ambassador Patterson noted that none of these contenders struck the US as being the strong leader that Pakistan needed.

Meanwhile, another cable revealed that President Zardari had sought the advice of General Musharraf’s National Security Adviser Tariq Aziz and the then ISI Director on who should be appointed to the post.

The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The Hindu andNDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.