ISLAMABAD: As the race to
file nomination papers for the prime minister slot nears an end, it has
been reported that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has decided to field
its own candidate. Their candidate is none other than party chief,
Maualan Fazlur Rehman.
Express News has also reported that FATA representatives may field their own candidate as well.
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.
Makhdoom Shahabuddin, the PPP nominee, along with senior party leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf filed his nomination papers today. Ashraf has been nominated as the covering candidate.
Shahbuddin was also accompanied by Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and Awami National Party (ANP) leaders.
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 PML-N also announced it will field a candidate in what is likely to be a symbolic move as the PPP leads a majority in the assembly.
“We will contest the election for the new prime minister and Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan will be our candidate,” Siddiqul Farooq, a PML(N) spokesman told AFP.
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. The deadline to file nomination papers is 2pm.
Voting for the new prime minister will take place at 5:30 pm on Friday.
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.
Express News has also reported that FATA representatives may field their own candidate as well.
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.
Makhdoom Shahabuddin, the PPP nominee, along with senior party leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf filed his nomination papers today. Ashraf has been nominated as the covering candidate.
Shahbuddin was also accompanied by Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and Awami National Party (ANP) leaders.
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 PML-N also announced it will field a candidate in what is likely to be a symbolic move as the PPP leads a majority in the assembly.
“We will contest the election for the new prime minister and Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan will be our candidate,” Siddiqul Farooq, a PML(N) spokesman told AFP.
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. The deadline to file nomination papers is 2pm.
Voting for the new prime minister will take place at 5:30 pm on Friday.
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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