Top Story

  Editorial

  Metro

  Kashmir

  Business

  Sports

  Scoop

  Societal

  Health

    Cartoon

ISLAMABAD: Taking prolonged conjectures vis-à-vis the change of face in Lower House of the Parliament to an end, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali beamed to the nation in meticulous and the world in broad-spectrum his decision to resign from the apex position of Pakistan's Prime Minister in Islamabad on Saturday.

Jamali aired his decision at an unscheduled meeting of the ruling faction of the Pakistan Muslim League [PML] which is headed by Ch. Shujaat Hussain, an ex-Minister at the Federal level several times as well as a politician of fame by inheritance, hailing from the Gujrat city of the Punjab Province. As was being envisioned, Shujaat welcomed Jamali’s gesture with marvelous words for him [Jamali] who now goes indexed in the folio of another ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Resignation Accepted

President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday accepted Jamali's resignation and appreciated his services to the nation, terming him a "person of sterling qualities of grace, dignity sincerity and loyalty."

Jamali in his resignation said it was a matter of great honour for him to contribute towards Pakistan's progress and development as its Chief Executive.

Jamali expressed his satisfaction over the restoration of true democracy in the country, which he said, was on its path towards progress and development.

"It gives me a measure of satisfaction that as the Quaid's lieutenant and having a dream of Pakistan I am able to be its Prime Minister at a very important juncture in its history," Jamali said.

He expressed his gratitude to President Musharraf for his support and guidance in the fulfillment of his responsibilities.

Jamali said he would always be available in the future for doing anything that he may be called upon to do in the service of the Nation.

Jamali-Musharraf Meeting

Credible sources say that Jamali called on President General Pervez Musharraf along with Pakistan Muslim League Chief Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain on Saturday and tendered his resignation.

The President accepted his resignation and advised him to work till election of the new Prime Minister.

Ch. Shujaat to be new PM

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Saturday stepped down as the Prime Minister of Pakistan and nominated Ch. Shujaat Hussain to succeed him as the next Prime Minister.

Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali announced his resignation at a meeting of the ruling PML and allied parties. Ch. Shujaat Hussain will take vote of confidence from the National Assembly on Monday.

Cabinet Dissolved

Jamali also announced to dissolve the Federal Cabinet. Addressing a joint parliamentary party meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and coalition parties at Pakistan Muslim League House here, Jamali thanked coalition parties for support during his government tenure. He also said that he hasn’t tendered resignation before the party meeting “I am resigning as prime minister here at the party platform”, he said.

Mir Zafarullah Jamali said he had taken initiative for changing the political culture. “I have no grudge against any one who have leveled charges against me”, he said.

“I am not feeling bad by tendering resignation. I have relinquished several offices in the past. It needs courage”, the outgoing Prime Minister said. “I will continue my work as a party worker”, he added.

Tells No Reason

"I am tendering my resignation on the platform of PML and in the presence of party President Ch. Shujaat Hussain," Jamali announced at a crowded press conference.

Nominating Ch. Shujaat Hussain as his successor, Prime Minister Jamali asked the allied parties to extend their full support to him. He said the House will repose confidence in the leadership of Ch. Shujaat Hussain on Monday.

Jamali expressed the confidence that the National Assembly will complete its tenure. "The National Assembly will continue, this system will continue," he added.

Reposes Confidence in Shujaat

He expressed his full support and confidence in the leadership of Ch. Shujaat Hussain.

Jamali also announced to dissolve the federal cabinet. He said Shaukat Aziz will be made Senior Minister in the next government.

Expresses Optimism

The outgoing Prime Minister was confident that all members will extend their full cooperation to Ch. Shujaat Hussain to help ensure the continuity of the democratic system.

He said as a member of PML his first priority was his allegiance to the party and to the nation. "We need to go hand-in-hand and strengthen the party, this is the need of the hour," he added.

Jamali thanked his party and the allied parties for their support after he took over the office of Prime Minister following the October, 2002 elections.

Jamali said he tried his best to take along all members of his Cabinet and thanked them for their cooperation. "I have always tried to make everyone happy," he said while adding, it was upto his colleagues to decide how far he succeeded in his endeavours.

Visibly Composed

The visibly composed Jamali said he was fully satisfied and his conscience was clean. "There is no allegation either on me or my cabinet colleagues," he added.

Jamali said he also takes the credit of introducing a new political culture of tolerance in the country. He thanked the Opposition members. "I gave respect to the Opposition and got respect in return".

Shaukat Aziz to be Next PM

Pakistan's first independent daily newspaper on the Web, 'Pakistan Times' understands that though the out-going PM Jamali has named Ch. Shujaat Hussain as the new Premier of Pakistan, it seems that Shujaat's positioning in the apex slot of the chief executive would be a stop-gap or in other words an interim arrangement. And eventually Shaukat Aziz who was Finance Minister in the Jamali-led government shall take over as the new Premier for times to come.

A hint to this effect has been beamed even by the newly nominated Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain whereby he said the; "former Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz will be next prime minister after being elected as member National Assembly."

"I shall continue as Prime Minister till Shaukat Aziz is elected member National Assembly because the Constitution does not provide for election of a Senator as Prime Minister," he told pressmen.

Speaker National Assembly Chaudhary Amir Hussain, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhary Pervez Elahi and a large number of Senate and National Assembly members were present on the occasion.

The Most Appropriate

Going by observers and analysts' perceptions, Chaudhary Shujaat said Shaukat Aziz is the most appropriate candidate for Prime Ministership and hoped, under the leadership of Shaukat Aziz, the country would make rapid progress.

He said for the first time, the change of government has been completed peacefully and without any dispute.

Diverse Names

With Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's resignation, political circles and analysts were taking two names for the new PM including Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Federal Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar.

Some of the sources also indicating Ijazul Haq, Mohammedmian Soomro and Liaquat Ali Jatoi as other candidates of the hot seat in Islamabad.

A crucial meeting of the parliamentary party of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and allies is being planned in Islamabad, where after the real situation shall stand crystallized.

NA Special Session Summoned on June-29

Speaker National Assembly Chaudhary Amir Hussain Saturday said a special
National Assembly session is being summoned on Tuesday evening June-29 for election of new leader of the House.

The special session of the National Assembly is being convened after prorogation of the on-going session by President General Pervez Musharraf, he said talking to newsmen at the residence of Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain.

He said the special session of the National Assembly is being summoned under article 91 clause 2 (a) to elect the Leader of the House.

Meanwhile, he said that nominations for the election of the Leader of the House would be received at the National Assembly Secretariat till 1400 hours Monday.

The National Assembly session will start at 1600 hours Tuesday.

When asked about the Constitutional provision to prorogue the session without reading out the order on the floor of the House, the Speaker said, prorogation
of session in this manner is also not contrary to the Constitutional provisions.