Zardari nominates Makhdoom Shahabuddin for PM

The Bhutto loyalist faces a tough road ahead as he leads a fractious govt

Leader of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party Asif Ali Zardari has chosen veteran politician Makhdoom Shahabuddin as the replacement for ousted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, state-run media reported today.

"President Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, has nominated Makhdoom Shahabuddin as a candidate for the prime minister," state-run PTV reported.

Shahbuddin, 65, held several portfolios like health and textiles in Gilani's cabinet.

He will file his nomination papers for the election of the premier by the National Assembly or lower house of parliament later in the day, it said.

Senior PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf, who has served as Power Minister, will be the party's alternative candidate in case Shahabuddin's nomination papers are rejected for some reason.

The Supreme Court disqualified Gilani in response to several petitions that had challenged the National Assembly Speaker's decision not to disqualify the premier following his conviction of contempt.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry further ruled that the post of premier had been vacant since April 26, when another seven-judge bench had convicted Gilani of contempt for refusing to reopen graft cases in Switzerland against Zardari.

In a symbolic gesture, Shahabuddin, a Bhutto family loyalist, will file his nomination papers for the post of premier on the birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, the slain former chairperson of the PPP.

The President yesterday summoned a special session of the National Assembly at 5.30 pm on June 22 to elect the new Prime Minister. Speaker Fehmida Mirza will chair the session.