Zardari meets foreign envoys to decide on next Pak PM

Islamabad, Mar 1 : Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has met senior party leaders, foreign envoys and some other parties' leaders to decide on the name of the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Seiji Kojima and European Union Ambassador Johannes De Kok called on Zardari to discuss the expected future political scenario.

Separately, Makhdoom Amin Fahim held meetings with US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson and like-minded politicians, such as Raza Rabbani, to muster support in the new Parliament.

"The US Ambassador asked about when the new government would be installed and also enquired about the nomination of the party's Prime Minister," said Senator Enver Baig, who was also present in the meeting.

Baig said that Fahim told Patterson that he was a candidate for premiership, but the party's CEC would announce it.

The PPP Central Executive Committee is due to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister before the first session of the National Assembly, which is likely on March 5, the Daily Times reported.

Besides Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yousaf Raza Gilani are also potential candidates for nomination as the leader of the House in the National Assembly.

ANI