Makhdoom Shahabuddin: The next Pakistani Prime Minister?

20 June, 2012

Only time will tell as to who will take the place of Gilani but for now the post of Prime Minister of Pakistan lies vacant and waiting. Will contender Makhdoom Shahabuddin make it to the post is the real question.

PAKISTAN IS currently undergoing great political change. The former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has been disqualified by the Pakistan Supreme Court, and he was in office since 2008. Gilani has been disqualified from the Parliament after he was 'ceased' to be in office since April 26 as he was convicted for contempt of court. While the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) accepted the ruling and dismissed the 60-year-old Gilani, in his place Makhdoom Shahabuddin is emerging as favourable choice. The announcement for the new Prime Minister is yet to be made formally but this has raised a lot of interest in the life of Makhdoom Shahabuddin.

Makhdoom Shahabuddin belongs to the Seraiki belt in the southern part of the Punjab Province and has held a number of portfolios in the past during Gilani's reign. He was also considered for the post of Foreign Minister but that did not work out at the time. This time he has a stronger claim as he comes from the south and the PPP wants to make their hold stronger in that part of the country.

He also belongs from the spiritual family that worships, and is the custodian of the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Shah Rukn-e-Alam. While a few other names such as Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, former ministers Hina Rabbani Khar, Khursheed Shah and Samina Ghurki have also made their presence felt, it seems that this time Shahabuddin would be victorious.

It was PPP President Asif ali Zardari's decision to pitch in for Shahabuddin for the premier's post and the National Assembly session leaders who would decide on the final name, and will meet on June 21 for their final verdict.