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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Pakistani Cabinet dissolves as Jamali (really) resigns |
| 2004-06-26 |
| Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has announced his resignation from office and dissolved the Cabinet at a meeting of ruling party members. Mr Jamali's departure after a 19-month tenure follows months of speculation over his uneasy relationship with President Pervez Musharraf. Mr Jamali has nominated the president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, as his successor. However, that is apparently only for an interim period. Outgoing Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz will then take over as prime minister after about two months, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid says. "I have decided to resign immediately in the interest of the country and the party," Mr Jamali said. "I have nominated Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as new prime minister." He says Cabinet ministers and advisors will submit their resignations. Mr Jamali says he has been "authorised" to announce Chaudhry Shujaat's name. "Chaudhry Shujaat will take [a] vote of confidence on Monday and we will all support him," he said. He says Shaukat Aziz will take the post of senior minister in the new set-up. Mr Hussain paid tribute to Mr Jamali at the meeting, saying: "His name will go down in the history in golden words." Mr Jamali says his Government remains unblemished, adding that he has performed according to his ability and people will themselves judge how far he was successful. "My intention was pious and my conscience is clear," he said. Referring to speculation that had been circulating for more than a month about an in-house change and criticism from party members, he said: "I came to the conclusion that in the interest of the country and to save the party I should quit. It's not an easy thing to do, it needs courage." |
| Posted by:Fred |