ISLAMABAD, March 17: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Monday named Dr Fahmida Mirza and Faisal Karim Kundi as its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, in a move that observers said could affect the choice of the prime minister and cause ripples in the party.

The election for the two offices is due on Wednesday when the lower house of parliament will meet at 11am.

The 51-year-old Dr Mirza, who became an MNA for the third consecutive term from Badin, will be the first woman speaker of the National Assembly.

She is an agriculturist and businesswoman by profession, although she is a medical graduate from the Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro. Mr Kundi has been elected to the National Assembly for the first time.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the party leadership had asked the candidates to file their nomination papers on Tuesday. Dr Mirza will face Sardar Israr Tareen of the PML-Q from Balochistan and Mr Kundi’s opponent will be Khushbakht Shujaat of the MQM.

The decision to nominate Dr Mirza as speaker could further diminish the chances of Makhdoom Amin Fahim to become prime minister as it is largely believed that after giving the two main parliamentary offices to Sindh and the NWFP, the leader of the house must be from Punjab.

Sources told Dawn that there was great resentment within the PPP over Mr Zardari’s decision to nominate Dr Mirza. A PPP MNA from Sindh said the decision could be “disastrous” for the party because it appeared that Mr Zardari was interested in accommodating his friends.

Dr Mirza is the wife of Zulfiqar Mirza, MPA-elect from Sindh and a close friend of Mr Zardari. The sources said Mr Mirza was also expected to get a good position in the Sindh cabinet.

Meanwhile, Makhdoom Amin Fahim met Mr Zardari for the third time in a week, ostensibly in an effort to resolve their differences over the nomination of a candidate for the prime minister’s post.

The special committee of the PPP and the PML-N met to discuss the distribution of cabinet positions among the coalition partners. Sources said the meeting ended without any agreement because of differences on allocation of some ministries.

Opinion

Editorial

The challenge before banks
Updated 27 Feb, 2025

The challenge before banks

The way we do banking today will not exist in next 10 years, only those will survive who are capable of adopting new technologies.
Torkham tension
27 Feb, 2025

Torkham tension

CONTROVERSY over demarcation of the common frontier is one of the key obstacles standing in the way of better...
Weak link
27 Feb, 2025

Weak link

KARACHI — economic powerhouse, cultural melting pot, and bustling metropolis of over 20m souls. There is much that...
Forgotten inmates
Updated 26 Feb, 2025

Forgotten inmates

Diversion programmes are needed for minor offences and people with psychosocial disabilities should receive treatment rather than be jailed.
Controlling crypto
26 Feb, 2025

Controlling crypto

THOUGH Pakistan’s official position on cryptocurrencies has evolved considerably over the years, there still seems...
Deadly roads
26 Feb, 2025

Deadly roads

DRIVING in Karachi can be hazardous, with chaos on the roads, and very little by way of following rules and...