Its all in the friends of the family, We keep it simple stupid.

PPP nominates Fahmida Mirza for NA Speakership
'Pakistan Times' Parliamentary Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) has decided to nominate Dr Fahmida Mirza as candidate for slot of Speaker of the National Assembly while Faisal Kareem Kundi would be candidate for deputy speakership, party sources said Monday.

“Our Parliamentary party has endorsed co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to nominate Fahmida Mirza as candidate for the speakership,” sources said.
Dr Fahmida comes from a political family of Sindh.

She is wife of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who is a close aide of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. She had won February 18 general polls from coastal district of Badin after defeating Bibi Yamin Shah.

The PPP sources said that Dr Fahmida’s nomination would be announced by party co-chairman himself.

Meanwhile, when contacted Fahmida Mirza declined to give comment on her nomination. She said her nomination for Speakership of the National Assembly has not been finalized but the ultimate decision is expected within 24 hours.

“Well, there are three to five candidates in run for speakership and my name is also on the list,” Fahmida Mirza said.

She said PPP has summoned important meeting at Zardari House on Monday evening to discuss nominations for slot of the speaker and other key positions.

“There is no confusion over nomination for candidate of the slot of the Prime Minister and rumours of rift are baseless,” she said, adding, “all the party members would endorse decisions of the party co-chairman.”

Meanwhile, central leader of PPP Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah disclosed that PPP MNA Faisal Karim Kundi would be candidate of the coalition partners for the slot of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

“MNA Faisal Karim Kundi would be our joint candidate for the slot of Deputy Speaker while the name of candidate for the slot of Speaker would be announced by Monday evening,” said Khurshid Shah while talking to the media outside the chamber of Mian Raza Rabbani, the Opposition Leader in the Senate.

When asked who would be the nominee for the top slot, Shah said the announcement would be made by March 20.

“The future Prime Minister would be announced by March 20. There are four to five candidates for the top slot and the final decision would be taken after consulting the coalition partners,” he said.

When asked did the delay in finalizing the name of future premier suggests any difference within coalition partners, Khurshid Shah said the consultation indicated that the coalition partners were adopting a democratic path.

“When you have three to four coalition partners, you have to consult each party for taking a final decision. The consultation does not mean that the coalition is facing internal rifts,” he concluded.

Young Kundi, who has been elected to the Lower House for the first time, defeated MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in the election held on Feb 18 from NA-24, D.I.Khan.●