ISLAMABAD, 6 March 2008 — The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) yesterday delayed a decision on who should become the country’s prime minister. After a daylong meeting chaired by Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the party decided to name the next prime minister on Sunday.

Briefing the media at the end of the meeting, Nabeel Gabol, a newly elected lawmaker from Layari, said: “The president has not called a session of the National Assembly, how can we show all of our cards.”

He demanded that President Pervez Musharraf summon the National Assembly and said that the sooner that is done, the better for Pakistani politics. “There could be more delay in naming a prime minister if the president delays summoning of the National Assembly session,” the PPP leader said.

He denied there were differences in the party over the formation of the government.

PPP, which finished first in last month’s elections, had been expected to nominate Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a longtime Benazir aide from her home province of Sindh, as its candidate for the premiership.

But the meeting broke up yesterday without even discussing the merits of the four main candidates, participants said.

“The consultation process will continue,” Fahim told reporters as he left, shrugging of questions about the cause of the delay. “This is democracy.”

Lawmakers said Zardari had told them he would discuss the nomination with them in small groups in the next few days before making a decision.

“The legacy of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto must be fulfilled and the party and democracy must be strengthened. Individuals come and go, but parties have to live on,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi, one of the other contenders.

At his news briefing, Gabol said those whose names came up for appointment as federal ministers were told by Zardari that they would have to review all social, political and economic problems of Pakistan.

He said that during the day’s session it was decided to summon former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to explain why he left the country’s economy in a complete mess. Gabol said there was severe power crisis which has a direct impact on the country’s economy. “Our ministers will not wear Rolex watches and travel in expensive cars. They will visit every constituency regularly,” Gabol quoted Zardari as saying at the meeting. He said Zardari would personally monitor the performance of ministers.

Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar also endorsed Gabol’s views, saying President Musharraf must call a session of the National Assembly.