Yousuf Raza Gilani elected new Pakistan PM

Islamabad, Mar 24 : The National Assembly on Monday elected PPP's Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan with thumping majority.

Gilani bagged 264 votes. The rival candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, fielded by the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and its allies secured only 42 votes.

The speaker divided the house in two parts directing the supporters of Yousuf Raza Gilani towards A Lobby and the supporters of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to B Lobby.

Kashmala Tariq failed to reach the Parliament House in time and was denied entry in the house.

Earlier, the National Assembly has begun a session to elect the new Prime Minister with Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza in the chair.

According to The News, the members of National Assembly participated in the proceedings under rule 35 of the Rules of Business to elect the new Prime Minister.

The House elected the new Prime Minister of the country through a division mechanism as no secret vote is held for election of the Prime Minister.

The PPP-led alliance has already demonstrated its strength in the National Assembly during the Speaker's election when its candidate Dr Fahmida Mirza secured 249 votes while Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi polled 246.

Now the MQM, which has 25 members in the National Assembly, also voted for Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The National Assembly has total strength of 342 members but its existing strength is 330, as 12 seats stand vacated.

ANI