Pakistani MPs select pro-military premier
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pakistan's new parliament picked a moderate Prime Minister from the pro-military Pakistan Muslim League yesterday, roundly rejecting a pro-Taliban cleric.
Zafarullah Khan Jamali, a politician from Baluchistan, squeaked by with 172 out of the 329 votes cast, just enough to avoid a vote of confidence in January.
General Pervez Musharraf, the President who ousted the previous government in a 1999 coup, will retain the power to dissolve parliament. Critics say he has institutionalised a dubious hybrid of "martial democracy" by tinkering with the constitution.
Mr Jamali, 58, supports General Musharraf's controversial new constitutional amendments and has pledged to co-operate with Washington's "war on terror".
The politician was General Musharraf's preferred candidate. The opposition fears that Mr Jamali, who dissolved the Baluchistan assembly while he was chief minister, is liable to acquiesce to military intervention and rubber-stamp army decisions.
The former cricket captain and MP Imran Khan backed the Islamist candidate, Fazl-ur-Rahman, who came second with 86 votes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments