By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sunday said that party deputy chairperson Makhdoom Amin Fahim will be its candidate for prime minister in case the party wins the Jan 8 national elections.
Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, announcing the decision at a press conference said that since his wife had nominated Fahim as acting chairperson of the party, he will be the PPP’s candidate for prime minister.
However, Zardari said the central executive committee (CEC) of the party could review this decision but “I have firm belief that the CEC will nominate Fahim for the post.”
The CEC meeting was held at Nowdero at Bhutto House where the party decided to contest the January polls and appoint Bhutto’s son Bilawal as chairperson of the party.
Zardari said the party has decided to contest the Jan 8 polls in the larger national interest and Bhutto gave her life while campaigning for the elections.
He termed the former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as “Qatal (murderer) League”. He said the objective of the PPP is to defeat the “Qatal League” in the country.
When Bilawal was asked a question and gave a confused reply, Zardari requested media persons that Bilawal “was of tender age, though he has been nominated as chairman of the party”.
Zardari said that he would lead the party in the elections but would not be a candidate. Asked if he would contest polls in the future, he said that it depends on the party.