Pervez Ashraf elected as next Prime Minister of Pakistan
22 June, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party's Raja Pervez Ashraf has been elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan after the disqualification of Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani by SC.
During the election for the prime minister in the National Assembly Ashraf secured 211 votes, whereas PML-N candidate Mehtab Abbasi received 89.
Ashraf will take oath as the 25th prime minister of Pakistan later tonight (Friday) and was congratulated by President Asif Ali Zardari over his victory.
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.
Raja Pervez Ashraf is the fourth prime minister from the PPP succeeding Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani who was disqualified by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has withdrawn from the race for prime minister's office at the eleventh hour announcing to remain impartial, our sources reported.
Fazlur Rehman announced this in the National Assembly ahead of the polling for the new prime minister.
Fazl, while withdrawing his nomination also announced that his party would not participate in the voting process for election of the prime minister.
Moreover, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif on Friday expressed his astonishment at the nomination of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as the PM candidate of the PPP and its coalition partners.
Speaking to the media, Nawaz Sharif said that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was not the appropriate candidate for the prime minister's post.
The PML-N president also criticized statements made by Chaudhry Shujaat who had said he was supporting President Zardari for the stability of democracy. "Was Shujaat supporting martial law when he supported Musharraf," Nawaz said.
Nawaz asked coalition partners how they would be able to face the people of their constituency by supporting the PPP.
Raja Pervez Ashraf Profile
Raja Pervez Ashraf, born on December 26, 1950 in Sanghar is serving as Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian's Secretary General. Ashraf is an agriculturist and businessman by profession. He obtained his undergraduate degree from University of Sindh and did his diploma from United Kingdom in Industrial Management.
Right after his graduation, Ashraf continued his profession in the agricultural sector until he joined center-left PPP. After being affiliated with largest political party of the country, Ashraf made Gujar Khan his new home. He has being elected twice as member of National Assembly from his Gujjar Khan. Furthermore, Ashraf served as the chairman of Social Action Program from 1994 to 1996.
Ashraf started his political drive in 1988 and participated in 1989 bye-elections. Ashraf made his appearance in the elections of 1990, 1993 and 1997. In national elections of 2002, Ashraf defeated PML (N)'s candidate Chaudhary Zaman by a huge margin. In 2008 elections, Ashraf defeated PML (Q)'s candidate Qasim Javed.
After PPP's victory in 2008 elections, Raja Pervez Ashraf took the office as Minister of Water and Power. However, Ashraf was found accused in rental power corruption scam, on which he was reshuffled to the Ministry of Information and Technology. Court's proceedings regarding the case are still in progress.
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