Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf filed their nomination papers for the PPP. JUI-F chief Maualana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N’s Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi have also filed their nomination papers.
An Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) Magistrate had earlier issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Makhdoom Shahabuddin.
The speaker will scrutinise the nominations in the presence of the candidates, their proposers and seconders within an hour after the nominations are filed to her office.
Voting for the new prime minister will take place at 5:30 pm on Friday.
In brief remarks at the national assembly, Shahabuddin showcased his loyalty by thanking Zardari and extending greetings to members of the PPP on the birthday of his late wife.
"I am thankful from the bottom of my heart (to Zardari)," he told reporters.
"Today is a special day because it is Benazir Bhutto's birthday and I send my congratulations on this birthday to all party workers," he added.
The Awami National Party (ANP) has announced its support for PPP candidate Makhdoom Shahabuddin and says that all 13 party representatives will vote for him on Friday.
The unanimous decision was taken during a parliamentary party session in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.
Also speaking to the media separately, the JUI-F chief said that his party was aware of their numbers in the assembly, but the PPP and PML-N should think over their decisions. He added that the current condition of the PPP could push the country towards a martial law.
Both Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) have been in talks with coalition and opposition parties. The PML-N has reached out to other parties in Parliament to garner support against the ruling party.
Under the Constitution, only a Muslim member of the National Assembly can contest for the office of prime minister, and has to be elected by a majority of the 342-member lower house of parliament, which comes to 172 votes. The PPP-led coalition enjoys a comfortable majority to secure the votes for its candidate to get elected.
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COMMENTS (74)
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yar why you rae blaming maulana sb. have you give him one chance.to be precise, have their been any islamic government in pakistan since 1947. you have tried pml, ppp,and dictatorz, and they made a mess of country. i cant undersatnd, whats the problem with people. they are fond of balming and criticizing islamic people. you people select them, then why criticizing... we people are sole responsible for all thinngs.... better see your deeds...
oh no
@Rehmat Khan, Religious parties are all black spots on Pakistan, so Molana's black spot will not be visible.
Excellent choice to represent Pakistan overseas especially! The world will finally have had enough with Pakistan with a Taliban Mullah as its Semi-Great Leader!
@maestro:
For that you need to be in possession of a drone and wait for a full parliament session
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to give responsible posts to those who were most reluctant to take them.
What a greedy, non-responsible, non-accountable lot we have here. Ready to collect the spoils in the last 6 months of the tenure!
Keep sleeping Pakistan - All is well.
Imran will deliver milk and honey through water taps and Maulana Diesel will deliver holy water from zamzam well through the water tap. Take your pick.
101 people actually voted for Fazlu Diesel, a true LOL moment.
maulana will also provide the missing link for balauchistan : may be pml(n) should also withdraw their candidate to provide for a unanimously elected PM
Baziite : ppp should withdraw all candidates under protest and invite maulana to join the govt and even to become prime minister . It will form a 2/3 rd majority govt who can make any ammendment to fix the pakistani system once for all .
its funny how some of the first commenters are indians... will they be involved in our municipal elections too?
Enjoy Euro2012. Great quarter final matches coming up! As it pertains to Pakistan and what goes on tomorrow; Allah key marzi! Nahi?
Although not the biggest fan of the Maulana, any Muslim is better than a secular person. PPP has demonstrated that they are full of crooks.
The calibre of the candidates represent the calibre of the nation whom they represent. After all it is the awam who elected these leaders and will do so again in the next election too.
If PPP did not have a decent PM candidate better go for someone like Mustafa Kamal. Lets give youth the chance to make this country prosperous. Electing people like Maulana would be the worst for this country.
We don't have anybody with Clean RECORD??
From all the comments - A great deal of worry and sensitivity is very obvious about the future of Pakistan. Did anyone of the posters (including myself) ever asked our elected representatives about what are they doing in this situation. How are they going to represent the feelings of their voters? Why did not you as my leader and representative raise any voice angainst the choice of corrupt mafia?
The comments show that nobody really knows what they want and they think just randomly kicking people out and crossing their fingers is going to get the job done.
where is Amin Faheem. he was hot candidate for premiership in 2008. no one even considering him now. why?
From that list, I will go with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Atleast he is not from PPP or PML N
Dont we want Islamic system run by Molana Sahib?
From that list I would choose Qamar Zaman Kaira
just look at the names of PPP walaahs lolol.......................
Very orignal and innovative approach for choosing a Prime minister. Looks like the closest example is switzerland where Prime ministers functions are delivered by senior ministers by rotation. Pakistan can have 4-5 probable PM's on hand. As soon as Supreme court sends a demand to one of them to write to Swiss, he steps aside and another takes over. CJ will never know who is going to be PM next day or week and can never get the notification delivered.
Makhdum Shahabuddin deserves it, he has just added a new medal to his resume. What better way to replace a corrupt PM with another potentially corrupt leader.
Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas and Mustafa Kamal are best for the post of PM; But they will never be considered as they do not have support from Jagirdars and money minters of this country.
I am for Rehman Malik for PM....
my vote is for RAJA jee...so that we can end load shedding in dec...not dont know the year...hahahaha...
Why dont Mustafa Kamal....
As if they're playing Kanchay (marble balls) in drawing room. You all made Pakistan a Joke
Please God, NO NO NO NO NO.
Our next Prime Minister. I hope!
Interestingly, the mobs attacking public property under the guise of demonstrations against load shedding have all of a sudden become quiet. Speaks volumes about the collusion of PML-N.
This, may not be such a bad idea. Fringe has to be brought to the center and allowed to participate in the running of a Government. To sweeten the deal entrust the colorful Maulana with issues of law and order especially curbing terrorism. Hold him to it!
Do not let him get anywhere near the ministry of religious affairs, womens issues and rights for minorities. Cursing and shooting at innocents bystanders as a remedy to eliminate terrrorism will not work. Or well,...............
People who were after Gilani will regret it now...
Changing faces does not change the system. There is no shortage of people who are loyal to system of corruption, oft refered to as 'Jamhooriat'.
In fact JUI MNAs know Mulana cannot win but they nominated him LOL Mulana has to re-think what his party joking with him.
Mr.Noor alam khan from Peshawar or syed mustafa kamal of karachi... might be the reasonable choices from treasury benches ...
disgusting!!
God spare us!
@blaaaaah: Almighty give you long life. Please pray for those compel us to think like this.
good for nothing Mulana using the same argument which PPP and PMLN using to oppress people of Pakistan, either WE or Martial Law
A person who has an arrest warrant are in race of prime minister. what a country and what a people.
All the 3 PPP candidates have done corruption.
I want Gilani back!
He is black spot on the face of Religious Parties. He can do everything for his personal gain.
oh God! this is real torture.
Diesel Zindabad!!!
shamelessly yours,
Ya Allah.. what's happening with us, this guy Kaira doesn't deserve to be our PM.. he doesn't have that worth at all.
Probably the best and the most opportunist person in the history of Pakistani Politics.
In comes, the most eligible bachelor in town: Maulana Fazl.
anything can happen in Pakistan and why not we are a democracy and there is freedom of speach so by all means majority rules. I may not agree with his policies but hey thats what democracy is all about.
larkidesi
How about ALL OF THEM retire from politics altogether if they really want to save the country!!
You cannot be serious ! :S
I am seriously worried if this is the calibre of candidates who aspire to be the PM of a nation with population of over 200 million. What is the future of Pakistan?
Curtains are unavailing "enjoy a new drama"
Dont we have any professional or technocrate to run affairs efficently. Politicians dont have the capability to get out from this mess...
@blaaaaah: You better contact Rs 100/- lawyer for making your will. You don't have much time.
Maulana knows very well he cant be elected, he has to stand with PPP but cant be seen doing it, so he presents himself as candidate, ensuring the votes that would have gone against PPP candidate are now out of equation at same time he can claim see i didn't support the PPP candidate. Just like PML - N did at presidential election time :)
Does a Pakistani even know what is happening on their fates. Or do they think that vote is just another sellable commodity?
We are not lucky enough to have respectable Moulana as PM.
Make hay when the sun shines. Well done Maulana.
I would rather die than see him as our prime minister!
another joke, better elect him as minister for diesel affairs .
LOL...
Oh, no!!!
Good move. He had requested US ambassador to use their good offices to make him PM!! He looks impressive in that colourful turban!!
What a joke. This all what Pakistan needs. lol.
Greedy got.