Re: PPP to be given ‘free hand’ in poll
Sherry sure, Fahim not about PM candidature
NAUDERO: There is no question that the man, who Benazir Bhutto nominated for the post of prime minister should the Pakistan People’s Party come to power, is still Makhdoom Amin Fahim, said PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman. However, strangely enough, this was not the same response from the man himself. “I have no idea about it,” said Fahim, the PPP vice chairman, while responding to the question as to whether he was still the candidate. “I cannot say anything at this moment and the party will decide who it wants to place as the candidate for the PM.” However, Sherry Rehman categorically and emphatically told Daily Times, “There is no question that the PPP’s candidate would be anyone other than Makhdoom Amin Fahim. And he is tipped for it.” Fahim will be attending the PPP’s CEC meeting today (Wednesday), which will discuss any decision that the Election Commission takes. The party will have to determine its course of action if the elections are postponed. Fahim stuck to the stand elaborated by Zardari at the press conference on the fourth day after Benazir’s death. “We demand that the elections should be held on schedule,” he said, arguing that the PPP believed that its opponents would try to take advantage of a delay. Benazir tipped Fahim as the frontrunner as he was a stalwart of her father. Fahim was also the party’s candidate for prime minister after Mir Zafarullah Jamali was removed from the post. Fahim is considered one of the most sincere and close associates of Benazir Bhutto.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\01\02\story_2-1-2008_pg7_9