The widower of slain former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has decided to run for president.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) officials on Saturday
announced their leader, Asif Ali Zardari, has accepted their nomination
to replace former President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned earlier this
week rather than face impeachment.
Federal and provincial lawmakers will elect a new president on September sixth.
Earlier today, Zardari's coalition partner, former Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif met with PPP leaders in the eastern city of Lahore to discuss
the presidential race. After the meeting, Sharif told reporters he
would support Zardari's bid, if he vows to do away with the
presidential power to dismiss parliament.
Mr. Sharif and Zardari have been deadlocked over the restoration of judges whom President Musharraf fired.
The former prime minister said Friday a resolution to reinstate judges
will be presented to parliament for a vote on Monday. He said he
expects the judiciary to be restored two days later.
Mr. Sharif's (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) party earlier threatened to pull out of the government unless an agreement on the matter was reached by Friday.
Zardari has been reluctant to restore the judiciary and the chief
justice. If reinstated, the justices could take up challenges to a
legal amnesty granted to PPP leaders on corruption charges.
The widower of slain former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has decided to run for president.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) officials today (Saturday)
announced their leader, Asif Ali Zardari, has accepted their nomination
to replace former President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned earlier this
week rather than face impeachment.
Federal and provincial lawmakers will elect a new president on September sixth.
Earlier today, Zardari's coalition partner, former Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif met with PPP leaders in the eastern city of Lahore to discuss
the presidential race. After the meeting, Sharif told reporters he
would support Zardari's bid, if he vows to do away with the
presidential power to dismiss parliament.
Mr. Sharif and Zardari have been deadlocked over the restoration of judges whom President Musharraf fired.
The former prime minister said Friday a resolution to reinstate judges
will be presented to parliament for a vote on Monday. He said he
expects the judiciary to be restored two days later.
Mr. Sharif's (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) party earlier threatened to pull out of the government unless an agreement on the matter was reached by Friday.
Zardari has been reluctant to restore the judiciary and the chief
justice. If reinstated, the justices could take up challenges to a
legal amnesty granted to PPP leaders on corruption charges.