Gilani new Pakistani prime minister

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s National Assembly yesterday elected as prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, a top official in assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s party, five weeks after it won a general election.

In an immediate challenge to the unpopular President Pervez Musharraf, Gilani said he would order the immediate release of judges Musharraf detained after he declared emergency rule in November. He also called on parliament to pass a resolution seeking a United Nations investigation into Bhutto’s assassination on December 27 in a gun and bomb attack blamed on Islamist militants.Gilani won with 264 votes in the 342-seat lower house of parliament, the speaker told the assembly.The only other contender, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League that backs President Pervez Musharraf, won 42 votes.The announcement triggered cheers and shouts of “Long Live Bhutto” from supporters in the visitors’ gallery.Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was also in the gallery and was seen wiping away a tear.Bhutto party supporters also chanted “go Musharraf, go”.”It is because of the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto that democracy is being restored.It is a historic event,” Gilani told the assembly shortly after the announcement.Gilani, a close aide to Bhutto and a vice chairman of her party and former National Assembly speaker, had been expected to win the vote with a big majority.He was backed by members of his Pakistan People’s Party and its coalition partners, including the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which came second in the February 18 election, and a small pro-Musharraf regional party.Nampa-ReutersHe also called on parliament to pass a resolution seeking a United Nations investigation into Bhutto’s assassination on December 27 in a gun and bomb attack blamed on Islamist militants.Gilani won with 264 votes in the 342-seat lower house of parliament, the speaker told the assembly.The only other contender, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League that backs President Pervez Musharraf, won 42 votes.The announcement triggered cheers and shouts of “Long Live Bhutto” from supporters in the visitors’ gallery.Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was also in the gallery and was seen wiping away a tear.Bhutto party supporters also chanted “go Musharraf, go”.”It is because of the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto that democracy is being restored.It is a historic event,” Gilani told the assembly shortly after the announcement.Gilani, a close aide to Bhutto and a vice chairman of her party and former National Assembly speaker, had been expected to win the vote with a big majority.He was backed by members of his Pakistan People’s Party and its coalition partners, including the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which came second in the February 18 election, and a small pro-Musharraf regional party.Nampa-Reuters