Raja Parvez Ashraf elected as Pakistan PM

Islamabad: Raja Parvez Ashraf, a stalwart of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was on Friday elected by the National Assembly as Pakistan's new Prime Minister as the country struggled to come out of its latest political crisis.

The 61-year-old loyalist of the Bhutto family was pitched forked into the hot seat after the original choice Makhdoom Shahbuddin faced an arrest warrant on Thursday. But the new leader himself is dogged by corruption charges relating to his tenure as Power Minister.

The 342-member National Assembly chose Ashraf with 211 votes against opposition PML-N nominee Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi who got 89 votes. He will be administered oath of office by President Asif Ali Zardari as the country's 25th Prime Minister.