Showing posts with label Prime Minister. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prime Minister. Show all posts

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Pakistan Opposition Considers Candidate for PM after Election Victory


The party of Pakistan's late former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, met Friday to discuss their choice for the next prime minister after securing victory in Monday's polls.

Party officials say a top contender for the post is PPP Vice President Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Friday's meeting ended without an announcement and party officials say discussions will continue over the next few days.

On Thursday, the PPP and the other big winner in general elections, Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party, said they would work together to form a government of national consensus.

Ms. Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, now the head of the PPP, says he wants to form a broad government, but one excluding the main party that backs President Pervez Musharraf. That party came in a distant third in the balloting.

In a move that might spell trouble for Mr. Musharraf, the PPP and Mr. Sharif's party could - with support from smaller parties - gain the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to impeach the president.

In an opinion editorial in The Washington Post newspaper Friday, President Musharraf said he is ready to work with the new parliament to address key issues affecting Pakistan.

The president has said he hopes for a "harmonious coalition" following the defeat of his political allies in Monday's parliamentary elections. Some opposition leaders have called his resignation, which he has brushed off.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Najib denies knowing anything about Dr M’s agreement

Reiterating his support and loyalty to the prime minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Najib Razak said today he did not know anything about an alleged agreement that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stay as premier only for one-term before stepping down in favour of his deputy.

"No, I don't know. I really don't know about that,” said the deputy prime minister after opening a seminar for Felda mosque officials at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. “However, I am committed to support (the prime minister) and remain loyal to the prime minister. I don't know. You (reporters) have to ask the parties concerned."

Najib was responding to reporters’ questions on whether he knew of the "gentleman's agreement" between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah. The agreement, according to the former prime minister yesterday, was made with Abdullah in 2003. However, Dr Mahathir conceded that he had no way of proving the existence of such an agreement.

The understanding, Dr Mahathir said, was for Abdullah to serve as a prime minister for one term before passing the baton to Najib. Dr Mahathir was quoted by AFP as saying, "That was my thinking since (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over."

Najib, also the Barisan Nasional deputy chairman, stressed he was committed to support and remain loyal to the prime minister. At the same time, he said his focus was on the coming general election and to ensure the BN’s victory.
LATEST DEVELOPMENT: Wed Feb 06, 08 5:16:44 pm MYT: PRU ke 12: Peluang tipis Najib untuk gantikan Abdullah sebagai PM. Apakah Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak berfikir, kesetiaan yang ditunjukkan beliau kepada Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan membantunya menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia yang ke-6? Mesej sebenar yang hendak disampaikan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad adalah, jika Abdullah diberi mandat melanjutkan khidmatnya sepenggal lagi, Najib mungkin tidak berpeluang menjadi PM dan Presiden Umno.