October 16, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: While the PML-Q’s nominated parliamentary leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is engaged in the task of putting together what in his opinion would be a ‘stable’ coalition government at the Centre, two of the party stalwarts, Vice-President Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and former Balochistan Chief Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, are being promoted by the party for the post of the prime minister.

Zafarullah Khan Jamali along with his parliamentary leader met Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the MMA on Tuesday while Khurshid Kasuri accompanied Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain when he called on the MMA chief, the JUP president, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani.

Mian Kasuri also made telephonic contact on Tuesday with the MMA vice-president, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, and JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

During these meetings and contacts, Mian Kasuri reportedly stressed the point that the people of Pakistan urgently needed economic relief which would only be possible, if political leadership rose above the narrow party interests and provided the required political and economic stability to the nation.

Meanwhile, former President Farooq Leghari of the National Alliance, which along with the PML-Q and PML-J makes the so-called Grand National Alliance (GNA), has also started his own campaign to win support for his candidature for the PM’s office. He met the JI chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, here today.

Hamid Nasir Chattha of PML-J is also being promoted by his party for the PM’s slot. He met Makhdoom Amin Fahim here today.

Mr Fahim himself is a candidate for the post if at all the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) would be invited by any one of the two major parties to join the coalition or if a national government is put together.

In the coming days and weeks many more candidates are likely to come on the scene to stake their respective claims to the office of the prime minister.