Bilawal to anoint next PM’s slate
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would announce candidate for the office of the prime minister, party spokesman Farhatullah Babar Wednesday said. In a statement issued here, Farhatullah did not fix the time and date for announcement and said,” Zardari House will unveil the candidate at an appropriate time.”
Meanwhile, PPP sources said the announcement is expected within a couple of days as Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has already arrived in the country from London. Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and senior vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim are said to be at odds over issue of premiership candidate nomination.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim was one of the front-runners for the PM House, however, the political scenario suddenly changed as Zardari House hinted it was also considering “some other options.” Analysts believe that senator Asif Ali Zardari has called the party chairman and his son Bilawal for announcement to avert any rift within the party ranks.
Parliamentary party meeting of coalition parties on Wednesday was held in the Parliament House, which was presided by Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Newly elected lawmakers of PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F participated in the meeting. Ten newly elected members from FATA were also present in the meeting.
They discussed about the elections of Speaker and Deputy Speaker. They reiterated to struggle for restoration of the deposed judges and supremacy of the parliament. Sources said that Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar walked out the meeting and demanded that Khurshid Shah should preside the meeting. When asked Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar about the details, he termed the news as rumors and concocted tale. However, after five minutes of boycott, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar rejoined the meeting.
Spokesperson of the PPP former Senator Farhatullah Babar has said that no announcement of the Prime Ministerial candidate is expected before the National Assembly is reconvened for the purpose. Referring to media reports about the name of the PPP candidate for the office of the Prime Minister and the timing and mode of its announcement, he said in a statement today “all such reports are merely in the realm of speculation”.
The Party will announce the name of its candidate after the announcement of the date when the National Assembly would be reconvened for the purpose of electing the Prime Minister, he said. Party’s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will announce the name of the Party’s candidate for the office of Prime Minister at the right time. Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to arrive in Pakistan shortly, he said.
Senior vice president of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sayed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Wednesday termed the rumors of interim Prime Minister immature and said their party would nominate the candidate after building consensus within its ranks.
“We have not decided a candidate yet, so how did the people assume that next prime minister would be for an interim period,” he told reporters.
He said none of the PPP leaders would quit the party over issue of PM or any other slot.
“Uncles of Mohtarma Benazir had left party after Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged but uncles of Bilawal will not leave party after assassination of Benazir,” he remarked. Gillani said he was not in the run for the premiership and believed in serving masses irrespective of any portfolio.