| The last remaining graft case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was quashed on Friday.
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| With this, the final hurdle to his claim as Pakistan’s prime minister gets cleared even as the party continues to be dogged by differences over choosing a nominee to head the new coalition government.
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| A Pakistani anti-corruption court today dropped the last of the seven graft cases, giving a reprieve to Zardari, who has emerged as a frontrunner to lead the PPP-PML(N) government, elbowing past PPP Vice-Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
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| He was cleared in six other cases by anti-corruption courts in Rawalpindi earlier this month in line with a Supreme Court order last month.
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| In the case registered in 2004, Zardari, 51, was accused of importing a BMW car while allegedly passing himself off as a student in order to evade paying duties.
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| Acquitting Zardari, Rawalpindi Judge Sagheer Quadri said there was no proof that he imported the car.
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| The differences within the PPP over finalising a prime ministerial nominee showed no signs of easing with the once frontrunner and Benazir Bhutto loyalist Fahim insisting he was still a “very strong” contender.
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| Amin, who met Zardari for the second time last night in as many days, said he was not interested in becoming the president or the speaker of the new National Assembly.
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| However, in an attempt not to take Zardari head on, Fahim said he would be the first person to support the PPP chairman if he expressed a desire to become prime minister. The PPP is expected to name its candidate on March 17, when the first session of the new National Assembly starts.
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| Backroom jostling over sharing of power, meanwhile, continued with former premier Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) demanding strategic ministries like defence. |
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