Amid differences within the Pakistan People's Party over its prime ministerial candidate, senior party leaders on Tuesday urged Asif Ali Zardari to head the new coalition government in Pakistan.
The matter came up during the last of a series of meetings held by PPP co-chairman Zardari with the new MPs of the party -- which is set to form the government with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of Nawaz Sharif -- for consultations on choosing a prime ministerial candidate.
Senior PPP leader Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, himself tipped for the slot, was among those who attended the meeting and backed the move for Zardari to become prime minister.
Party sources said no final decision had been made as yet by Zardari.
The party meeting coincided with President Pervez Musharraf's announcement to summon the new National Assembly, lower house of Parliament, on March 17.
Mukhtar told reporters after the meeting: "It was the view of everyone who spoke that we were pleasantly surprised and happy to see (Zardari) in this new role. We told him that it will be very good if you become prime minister."
Asked what was Zardari's response, Mukhtar replied, "He smiled and said, 'We will see.'"
Parliamentarian Fakhrunnisa Khokhar, who also attended the meeting, said: "There was consensus on the point that Zardari should take over the premiership."
The MPs told Zardari that it was important for him to take on the responsibility of premiership to tackle the differences that had emerged within the PPP over the contentious issue of choosing the prime ministerial candidate.
PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, till recently the front-runner for the post, has lashed out at the party leadership for delaying a decision on the prime ministerial candidate and said there was a feeling among the people that he was being "humiliated and betrayed".
Fahim was also not part of Sunday's meeting between the PPP and PML-N at which the two parties signed an agreement to form a coalition.
On Monday, senior PML-N leader Khwaja Muhammad Asif said his party had informed PPP about its reservations regarding Fahim in view of his apparent proximity to Musharraf and the military establishment. Fahim denied the charge.
Earlier reports had suggested that Zardari could nominate a prime minister for an interim period of about three months till he contested by-polls to the National Assembly and became eligible himself for the post.
The MPs also told Zardari that he was the best person to lead the party and the government. They pointed out that he could also take along the PPP's coalition partners.
PPP secretary general Jahangir Badar said Zardari was the "most suitable candidate" for premiership.
"If Asif Ali Zardari assumes the office of premiership, he will be able to keep the party together and render every sacrifice to attract more people to the party," Badar said.
Meanwhile, Fahim, who is currently in Karachi, has been asked by the PPP leadership to come to the federal capital for a meeting with Zardari.
Denying the reported differences between Zardari and Fahim, Mukhtar said: "Fahim remains the vice chairman of the party. There are no differences or major issues before us. The party will not split.
When the National Assembly is convened and the leader of the House is to be elected, you will know who is the candidate (for prime minister)."
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