The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) announced its pick for prime minister on Friday after a judge called for the arrest of President Asif Ali Zardari’s nominee. The country’s main ruling party has selected Raja Pervez Ashraf, hinting that the government will hold early elections. Speaking at a news conference, senior party official Syed Khurshid Shah told reporters “This is election year and we are going towards elections.” Ashraf, who previously served as water and power minister, has been the subject of corruption allegations. He served as information technology minister until prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s dismissal by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Ashraf’s opponent in the race will be Muslim League-N candidate Mehtab Khan Abbasi.
Via Al Jazeera.
