Zardari not a PM candidate in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said Wednesday he is not running for prime minister.

Zardari's political organization, the Pakistan People's Party, made major inroads in parliamentary elections this week, creating the ground work for him to seek the prime ministership. But he ruled that out, telling a news conference after his party's central executive committee met, "I'm not a candidate for prime minister," The Hindu reported on its Web site.

He said there are several leaders within the PPP capable of taking on the role.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf also reportedly has ruled out the possibility he will resign.

Zardari reinforced his position that the PPP will not form a coalition with Musharraf's party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid), which fared poorly in the elections.

Zardari said he envisions a national consensus government but any parties interested in cooperating with the PPP must support his party's demand for a U.N.-sanctioned probe into his wife's assassination, The Hindu reported.

Zardari also addressed the need to restore the judges who were removed when Musharraf declared a national emergency last November.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, also snared a large block of seats in Parliament.