Pakistan names new PM nominee

June 22nd, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

This comes after a court issued an arrest warrant for first nominee of the party.

Earlier, PPP nominated Makhdoom Shahabuddin for the post. However, he was dropped on Thursday after an anti-narcotics judge issued a warrant for the arrest of the outgoing textile industry minister who was President Asif Ali Zardari’s choice to replace ousted Premier Gilani.

The warrant for Shahabuddin’s alleged illegal import of drugs came just hours after his nomination.

The governing party on Friday named Raja Pervez Ashraf as its nominee for the post of premiership and the lower house of parliament has been summoned to vote in the new prime minister at 5:30 pm (1230 GMT).

“Raja Pervez Ashraf is our candidate,” senior party official Syed Khurshid Shah told a news conference, hinting that the government could call an election before its mandate expires early next year.

“This is election year and we are going towards elections,” Shah said adding, “If we have committed some mistakes or did not fulfill our manifesto, then the decision should be left to the people of Pakistan.”

Ashraf served as information technology minister until the Supreme Court dismissed Premier Gilani on Tuesday. But what’s causing concern is that he too is dogged with allegations of corruption.

The decision to replace Gilani followed a Tuesday ruling by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, which disqualified him from holding office retroactive to April 26 when he was convicted of contempt of court for failing to pursue alleged corruption charges against President Zardari.

Gilani refused to comply with court orders, arguing that Zardari has constitutional immunity from prosecution.

The governing PPP has the necessary majority in parliament to elect a successor to Gilani.

Gilani’s disqualification spells a fresh political turmoil and the clash of institutions in Pakistan just months ahead of the widely-expected general elections.

MSH/JR/AZ