ISLAMABAD, 21 March 2008 — President Pervez Musharraf has called the National Assembly (Parliament) to session on Monday for the election of a prime minister. Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, the son of slain former Premier Benazir Bhutto, is likely to announce the choice of Pakistan People’s Party for the post before Monday.
Presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi said: “The president has been pleased to summon the National Assembly to ascertain the member who commands the confidence of the majority of members.”
Musharraf, who came to power as a general in a coup in 1999, appears increasingly isolated, and there is intense speculation over how long the US ally will be able to hold onto power. The incoming government has pledged to pass a resolution to reinstate Supreme Court judges who Musharraf replaced in November out of fear that they could rule unconstitutional his own re-election by the previous assembly. However, leaders of the new government have yet to explain how that will be done, especially if Musharraf and newly inducted Supreme Court judges resist.
Benazir’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will lead the coalition, but it has still to name its candidate for the premiership. It could be a stop-gap prime minister, if Benazir’s widower and political successor Asif Ali Zardari ultimately decides he wants the job himself.
Benazir’s 19-year-old son Bilawal has returned to Pakistan and is expected to reveal the party’s choice. “We have time, so we can announce it either on Monday morning or just before the session,” said PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar.
The February election saw the PPP emerging with the most seats in the 342-member National Assembly but not enough to rule alone.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party came second, dealing a crushing defeat to the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid). Sharif, the leader Musharraf deposed, and Zardari signed an agreement this month to form a coalition with a small regional party and a religious party. Neither Zardari nor Sharif stood in the election.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a senior aide to Benazir and Zardari’s deputy, had been favorite but his prospects dimmed after Sharif’s party objected to his contacts with Musharraf. There have been growing calls from within the PPP for Zardari to take up the job.
Chaudhry Addresses Lawyers
The Supreme Court chief justice ousted and detained by Musharraf made a rare speech yesterday urging lawyers to continue protesting for his reinstatement.
Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has been under house arrest for over four months. But yesterday he managed to use a cell phone to address lawyers gathered in the eastern city of Lahore.
“I appreciate the role of lawyers for independence of judiciary. I also appreciate the support of civil society and political parties,” Chaudhry said in the speech, which was relayed by several private television channels. “God willing, this struggle will continue until we succeed.”
Chaudhry did not mention Musharraf by name, but said he had “refused to accept any pressure from the man in uniform.” “He wanted to misuse his uniform,” Chaudhry said.
Suicide Attack Kills Soldiers
The new government faces a host of problems, the most important of those being how to combat religious militancy. A suicide bomber yesterday killed five Pakistani troops and wounded five in an attack at the entrance to a paramilitary base in South Waziristan.
The incident took place at the Zari Nur base in Wana, the main town in a tribal region on the border with Afghanistan that has long been regarded as a haven for Al-Qaeda and Taleban militants.
— With input from agencies
