New Prime Minister

 

Jamali elected Prime Minister

Gets 172 votes; Fazl secures 86, Qureshi 70; PPP forward bloc support proves decisive

By Shakil Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: Bearded Baloch leader Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, a consensus candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam and Grand National Alliance was elected Pakistan's 16th Prime Minister by a whisker.

Jamali bagged 172 votes in a House of 342, though in this return-of-democracy battle, 328 votes were polled with one abstaining. It has happened for the first time in the parliamentary history of Pakistan that a Prime Minister has been elected with an overall lead of just one vote over the required 50% votes.

"Mir Zafarullah Jamali has been elected with an overwhelming majority," Speaker Ch Amir Hussain made the announcement following the prime ministerial contest and vote-count. It was followed by thumping of desks, and traditional embraces and congratulations showered on the Baloch Sardar, who at one time served as a security guard for Mather-e-Millat Fatima Jinnah, sister of Quaid-i-Azam, in the early '60s.

"In am thankful to Almighty Allah, and then this House for electing me as Leader of the House," said Prime Minister-elect Zafarullah Jamali in his first address to the National Assembly after he won the confidence of the House through ascertainment secured by division at a special session of the Assembly.

Jamali, the first Baloch to be elected as Prime Minister from the underdeveloped area-wise largest but population-wise smallest province Balochistan, outnumbered his nearest rival from Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal candidate Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman, who secured 86 votes. The third candidate for the contest, the articulate Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who hailed from Multan and belonging to Pakistan People's Party-Parliamentarians, bagged only 70 votes, as 10 of his party colleagues shifted their loyalties.

A total of 329 members, out of 330 present including the Speaker, took part in the election. However, recently elected Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who also hailed from Balochistan, abstained from voting and kept sitting in the House.

Mir Zafarullah Jamali, who was a consensus candidate of Grand National Alliance and a combination of other smaller parties, recorded his name in parliamentary history with distinction, as he is the first Baloch from Naseerabad (NA-266), who has been elected Leader of the House.

Many observers maintain that he was elected Prime Minister with a majority of just one vote over and above the required 50% of the total strength of the House. However, the other view was that the requirement was just 165 votes, as only 329 members were present.

"The Prime Minister-elect owes everything to 10 PPP-P parliamentarians who switched their loyalties, as the law on defection is still kept inoperative," said a PPP-P member, who regretted that the Prime Minister would continue to thrive on the strength of "turn-coats."

With early proceedings of the House marred by heated debate on the Legal Framework Order, the election for the Prime Minister was conducted on the basis of division, as three lobbies were located where members went in after recording their votes. The members went in lobbies of their choice.

Now the Prime Minister after he takes oath, will have to take vote of confidence within 60 days, though in-between the by-polls on at least 7 seats (to be vacated by those who won two seats ) and some others to be vacated by those who opted for provincial assemblies, will be held and the House will be completed.

Intense lobbying took place within the House, as all efforts of the PPP-P leaders to win back the "turn-coats" prove abortive. Faisal did not pay any heed to his one time party colleagues. He indulged in hectic arguments to justify his decision, though his decision was not viewed favourably by those who in the concept of parliamentary loyalties.

The PML-Q's efforts to win over Imran Khan also failed, as he voted for the religious leader Maulana Fazl-ur Rehman. Besides the PML-Q, the Grand National Alliance, MQM, PPP-Sherpao, Pakistan Awami Tehrik, PML-Z, PML-Junejo, PML-Functional and several members from FATA voted for stocky Jamali.

The PPP-P members voted for Qureshi, a parliamentarian par excellence, but in the process the PPP-P lost 10 votes as Rao Sikandar, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat and others voted for Jamali, who claimed to have personal friendship with them since his college days. "We have requested for their votes, and not purchased them," said Jamali.

The most interestingly decision was taken by the PML-N whose members voted for Maulana Fazalur Rehman. The Prime ministerial election took place after almost six weeks of the October 10 elections, primarily because of the hung parliament, which resulted in prolonged consultative process among the major political groups.

"The entire exercise was calculated and neatly planned with precision to get elected Jamali as Prime Minister," said one political observer, "I think Jamali can better be called as One-Vote Prime Minister."

A large number of ministers, politicians, and foreign envoys witnessed the election proceedings, though fumbling Speaker on many occasions amused those watching the election process.

"Leave behind everything, the democracy is restored and it is nice to see Parliament working for stable and strong democracy," said one MMA leader, who promised to play a constructive opposition role.