ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 20 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday nominated Makhdoom Shahabuddin to replace Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as prime minister, DawnNews reported.
The Pakistani news Web site said Raja Pervez Ashraf would be a covering candidate should Shahabuddin's nomination be rejected by Parliament. Shahabuddin and Ashraf were to submit their nomination papers Thursday.
Affiliated with the Pakistan People's Party, Shahabuddin is a member of the National Assembly. He has held the posts of minister of textiles, finance and health.
Geo News said there was a cloud over Shahabuddin, reporting he could face arrest in Pakistan's ephedrine scandal. The Anti-Narcotics Force is investigating his role in government export quotas given to two pharmaceutical companies. The stimulant allegedly is being smuggled into Iran and other countries.
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"His arrest is a matter of time. He can be taken into custody any time," the Pakistani news channel quote what it called a well-placed Anti-Narcotics Force official privy to the investigation as saying.
Shahabuddin has said he had ordered an investigation into the ephedrine scandal when he was health minister.
Zardari was given the power to nominate someone within the party after two emergency meetings Tuesday -- one of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party Central Executive Committee, and the other of leaders of coalition partners -- following the ouster of Gilani.
The Associated Press of Pakistan reported the National Assembly would meet Friday to vote on Zardari's choice.
Gilani was convicted of contempt of court and subsequently disqualified Tuesday by the Supreme Court following a months-long scandal involving loans taken out by his wife that were never repaid. Gilani refused to appear before a court review of the ruling, and Zardari decided against a presidential pardon.
