Pakistan’s parliament on Friday elected former water and power minister and ruling party member Raja Pervez Ashraf as the new prime minister.
Ashraf replaces Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court this week for refusing to reopen corruption cases against Pakistan’s president.
The South Asian nation’s three power centres – the military, civilian leadership and Supreme Court – have been furiously manoeuvring in recent weeks to gain a political edge.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had nominated the textiles minister to replace Gilani.
But an anti-narcotics court issued an arrest warrant for the textiles minister, undermining his bid, in a move analysts said may have been orchestrated by the powerful military.
News Source: The Daily Star
