Islamabad: A crucial meeting of newly elected Members of Parliament of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), set to form the next government in Pakistan, on Thursday, deferred a decision on naming the prime ministerial candidate.

The decision was deferred apparently due to differences on whether the person for the top post should be from Sindh or Punjab.

Emerging from the nearly four-hour meeting, chaired by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, senior party leaders said a decision on the prime ministerial candidate would take a few more days.

Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, one of the contenders for the post, told reporters, ''the people who have to take this decision need more time to finalise the candidate. A lot of things have to be taken into consideration.''

He also said that due to the reasons, Zardari has decided to hold meetings with members of Parliament from different divisions and take their viewpoints before he makes any decision.

Mukhtar added, ''I don't think there is uncertainty because of the prime minister not being nominated as yet. We still have time.''

It had been widely expected that the PPP, which plans to form government with the backing of former premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the Awami National Party, would name its candidate for premiership at Thursday's meeting.

PPP vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim was tipped to be the front-runner for the slot while other leaders being considered for the position were Mukhtar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yusuf Raza Gillani.

However, sources said differences within the PPP on whether the prime minister should be chosen from Sindh or Punjab had held up a decision.

Fahim hails from Sindh while the other contenders are from the politically crucial province of Punjab.

Source : PTI