ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. During the election for the prime minister in the National Assembly Ashraf secured 211 votes, whereas PML-N candidate Mehtab Abbasi received 89.
“Raja Pervez Ashraf is declared to be elected as prime minister of the Islamic republic of Pakistan,” speaker Fehmida Mirza announced after the counting.
A total of 300 votes were cast in the election. 10 MNAs did not cast their votes.
Ashraf will take oath as the 25th prime minister of Pakistan later tonight (Friday) and was congratulated by President Asif Ali Zardari who said that Ashraf’s victory is an indication of the nation’s confidence in democracy.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is the fourth prime minister from the PPP succeeding Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani who was disqualified by the Supreme Court.
Earlier on Friday, Ashraf met with leaders of the PPP’s coalition partners and secured their support for the election. Speaking to the media alongside PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervazi Elahi, Ashraf said that his main priority, if elected, would be to deal with and overcome the energy crisis.
As the National Assembly session began, JUI-F chief and PM candidate Maulana Fazlur Rehman appealed to the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings due to the demise of MNAs Fauzia Wahab and Zayed Khan. PPP leader Naveed Qamar rejected the suggestion saying this was not an ordinary session.
The Speaker, then decided to continue with the session.
Following this exchange, Fazlur Rehman announced to withdraw from the election adding that his party shall abstain from the process.
