Islamabad: The PPP said it was considering several leaders for the post of Prime Minister in the new government to be formed by it in Pakistan and a decision would be made after party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari completed consultations with all parliamentarians.

"We have announced that the nominee for the office of Prime Minister will be announced before the session (of the National Assembly) is convened and after the consultations (between Zardari and the MPs)," Pakistan People s Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

"There are several names under consideration (and) a correct decision will be taken," he said. Speaking hours after President Pervez Musharraf announced that he would convene the new National Assembly within two weeks, Babar said the PPP had decided to "have broad-based consultations with as many MPs as possible". Without giving a timeframe for choosing the prime ministerial candidate, Babar said, "There are still a number of days left for the assembly session. Very soon this decision will be taken."

During the day, Zardari met newly elected parliamentarians from the North West Frontier Province, Balochistan and Karachi division. The MPs "reposed complete confidence" in Zardari for nominating the PPP's candidate for primiership. Zardari, who is scheduled to meet parliamentarians from across Sindh province tomorrow, has said that the nomination of the prime ministerial candidate will be finalised by the time the National Assembly session is convened.

Source : PTI