M A I N   N E W S

Raja Pervez Ashraf is new Pak PM
Takes oath along with 38 ministers
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Shahabuddin had to bow out of the race yesterday after a special court issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with alleged irregularities in the import of a controlled drug during his tenure as Health Minister.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by political leaders, several Governors and Chief Ministers, the three service chiefs, diplomats, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairman of the Senate and Gilani.

The election of the new premier was necessitated because a Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry disqualified Gilani on Tuesday in response to several petitions that had challenged the National Assembly Speaker's decision not to disqualify him following his conviction for contempt.

The apex court ruled that the post of premier had been vacant since April 26, when another seven-judge Bench had convicted Gilani of contempt for refusing to reopen graft cases in Switzerland against Zardari.

Ashraf's election is seen by experts as a taunt to the assertive judiciary. It might irk the Supreme Court, which had ordered the government to take legal action against him for alleged corruption case.

Moreover, the new Prime Minister is also likely to face demands for reopening graft cases against Zardari from the apex court.

Ashraf, who belongs to a royal family of Rawalpindi in Punjab, was elected in a two-way contest during a special session of Parliament after three other candidates - Shahabuddin and Qamar Zaman Kaira of the PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman - withdrew from the race. — PTI

Faces tough task
* Ashraf succeeds Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified by the SC three days ago following his refusal to pursue graft cases against Zardari
* He is also likely to face similar demands from SC
* Nominated after Makhdoom Shahabuddin was forced to withdraw as an arrest warrant was issued for him
* Ashraf served twice in the Gilani Cabinet and resigned after graft allegations

Dramatic reversal of fortune: Ashraf is 25th Pak premier

Islamabad, June 22
Forced to resign last year as a minister after his name cropped up in a scam, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in a reversal of fortune has become Pakistan’s 25th premier, notwithstanding an ongoing probe against him.

A strong loyalist of the Bhutto family, Ashraf hails from a family of agriculturists and remained in his occupation until he joined Pakistan Peoples Party of Rawalpindi in Punjab.

Before joining active politics, 61-year-old Ashraf was an agriculturist and businessman by profession. He obtained his undergraduate degree from University of Sindh and did his diploma from UK in Industrial Management.

Ashraf, who was PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s second choice for the post of premier, became the main candidate after an arrest warrant was issued against party nominee Makhdoom Shahbuddin for alleged irregularities during his tenure as Health Minister.

Interestingly, Ashraf is facing a probe by the National Accountability Bureau for alleged corruption in rental power projects during his tenure as Water and Power Minister.

He was secretary-general of the PPP (Parliamentarians), a party formed in 2002 by the PPP for the purpose of complying with electoral rules governing Pakistani parties.

The party contested the 2002 elections while former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was living in self-imposed exile.

Ashraf, who was elected to the National Assembly from Gujar Khan constituency in Rawalpindi district — both in 2002 and 2008 — served twice in the cabinet of Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court.

He resigned from Gilani’s cabinet in February last year after allegations of corruption in power projects.

He returned to the cabinet in April this year when he was appointed minister for Information Technology.

Ashraf’s candidature was backed by PML-Q, a major ally of the PPP with more than 50 seats in the National Assembly. — PTI