ISLAMABAD, 17 March 2008 — Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and President of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Makhdoom Amin Fahim said he would remain a candidate for premiership if Asif Ali Zardari decides not to run for the post.

“If Zardari is not a candidate for premiership then I will not withdraw my candidature,” said Fahim in an interview with Arab News on Saturday. “I have repeatedly stated that if Asif Zardari wants to become the next prime minister I will not only propose his name but surrender my candidature,” he added.

Speaking about accusations that he has links to President Pervez Musharraf, Fahim said that during Benazir’s exile he was made leader of the party and turned down an offer to become prime minister by Musharraf in 2002.

“I was told by Benazir that we would only accept President Musharraf as a civilian president and not in uniform,” he said, adding that he held talks with Musharraf under instructions from Benazir.

“Now I am being accused of having links with him. These accusations are not leveled against me by my party but by one of our coalition partners,” he added.

Referring to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and its leader, Nawaz Sharif, Fahim said, “They have created misunderstandings because their agenda is slightly different from ours. They want conflict with President Musharraf whereas we want to resolve outstanding issues through democratic and constitutional means.”

As one of the founders of the PPP, Fahim said he was never a turncoat. “The party was formed in my house. My father late Talibul Maula was one of the founding members of the PPP. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir always reposed full confidence in my family concerning party matters,” he said.

“Now, if Zardari is thinking of bringing someone from Punjab like Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar I will not withdraw my candidature and at the same time I have no plans to quit the PPP,” he said, adding his job would be to hand over the reins of the party to its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Fahim was slightly critical of decisions taken at Zardari House. “Why am I not being consulted on the posts of speaker, deputy speaker and Cabinet members,” he said.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Sindh TV News, Zardari said the name of the new prime minister would be disclosed after the speaker and the deputy speaker are nominated.

Nabil Gabol, a close Zardari aide, said Fahim is a highly respected figure in the party and that he would be consulted when the prime minister is nominated.