Arrest warrant issued for PM candidate
Source: Agencies |
June 22, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A PAKISTANI judge issued an arrest warrant for the ruling party's candidate for prime minister yesterday over allegations he illegally imported drugs, casting fresh uncertainty into efforts to replace the previous premier ousted by the Supreme Court.
The warrant was announced after the Pakistan People's Party nominated Makhdoom Shahabuddin, raising suspicions it was politically motivated and aimed at blocking the president's choice to replace Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Gilani was dismissed on Tuesday because he refused to initiate a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari, the head of the PPP.
The order, which left the country without a Cabinet, was an escalation of a bruising power struggle between the government and activist judges, who critics say are unfairly prioritizing cases against the government.
Shahabuddin, the outgoing textile minister and a veteran PPP lawmaker, was Zardari's first choice for prime minister.
The 65-year-old appeared defiant as he filed nomination papers ahead of a scheduled vote in the parliament today.
But by last night, two other People's Party stalwarts were being mentioned as likely replacement candidates.
The arrest warrant was issued by an anti-narcotics court judge in the northern city of Rawalpindi.
Shahabuddin is accused over his role in a scandal over the import of a drug that can be used to make methamphetamine, said officials.
The warrant was announced after the Pakistan People's Party nominated Makhdoom Shahabuddin, raising suspicions it was politically motivated and aimed at blocking the president's choice to replace Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Gilani was dismissed on Tuesday because he refused to initiate a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari, the head of the PPP.
The order, which left the country without a Cabinet, was an escalation of a bruising power struggle between the government and activist judges, who critics say are unfairly prioritizing cases against the government.
Shahabuddin, the outgoing textile minister and a veteran PPP lawmaker, was Zardari's first choice for prime minister.
The 65-year-old appeared defiant as he filed nomination papers ahead of a scheduled vote in the parliament today.
But by last night, two other People's Party stalwarts were being mentioned as likely replacement candidates.
The arrest warrant was issued by an anti-narcotics court judge in the northern city of Rawalpindi.
Shahabuddin is accused over his role in a scandal over the import of a drug that can be used to make methamphetamine, said officials.
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