Zardari for top post | Sharif may leave Pak coalition

Islamabad: At least two major political parties of Pakistan are engaged in lobbying to install Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Asif Ali Zardari as the next President.

However, it was not clear whether the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) would also support the move. But the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a party representing the Urdu-speaking people, are coming out strongly in support of his candidature, local media reports said.

A PPP National Assembly member Farzana Raja told reporters after a dinner hosted by Zardari for the party's legislators last night that almost all PPP leaders had asked Zardari to become president.

She claimed that there was unanimity that Zardari was the most suitable person for the post. However, a party insider said there were a few members who opposed the idea of Zardari holding the post of president, which will have no real power in future.

According to him, Zardari told MNAs that the decision to nominate a candidate for the post would be taken at a meeting of the PPP's CEC tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf welcomed a statement of MQM chief Altaf Hussain that Zardari should be the next president.

''This is a welcome statement as the PPP has the right to get its candidate elected to the top post. The PPP has its governments at the center and in three provinces, and also a part of the coalition government in Punjab,'' he said.

Ashraf said the PPP would uphold the Constitution and reinstate the deposed judges.

In a statement in London, the MQM chief said,'' Keeping in view the sacrifice of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for democracy and after consulting my colleagues, I have come to the conclusion that the office of the President is the right of Asif Ali Zardari and, therefore, as party chief I propose Zardari as the next presidential candidate on behalf of my party.''

He appealed to the leaders of the PPP and other parties to accept his proposal and nominate Zardari for the post.

Meanwhile, Mr Zardari has thanked the MQM chief for his 'positive role’, which, according to him, led to the resignation of Musharraf.

Altaf Hussain and his party played a crucial role in the mediation efforts towards obtaining the resignation and ensuring a peaceful exit of the former president,'' Zardari said in a statement.