Pakistani parliament to convene Friday to elect new prime minister
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- Category: National Political News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 20:37
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Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's president has summoned the lower house of parliament to meet Friday to elect a new prime minister after the nation's top court ruled that Yousuf Raza Gilani is ineligible to hold office.
The session is set to convene early Friday, said Mehboob Gurmaini, a parliament spokesman.
President Asif Ali Zardari postponed a trip to Russia to huddle with senior members of his Pakistan Peoples Party to nominate a candidate.
Pakistan state television reported Makhdoom Shahabuddin, a longtime member of parliament who has served in several administrations, was selected. The candidate served as Gilani's textile minister.
Shadabuddin is considered a Zardari loyalist likely to adhere to the party agenda if elected.
The Supreme Court declared Gilani disqualified retroactive to April 26, the day he was convicted of contempt charges stemming from his refusal to call on Swiss authorities to reopen old corruption charges against Zardari.
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