October 19, 2002	Saturday	Sha'aban 12, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: A crucial meeting of the central executive committee of PML(Q) is being held here on Saturday to nominate Zafarullah Jamali as its candidate for the post of prime minister, party sources said.

Jamali told Dawn on Friday that there were other matters also but the main item on the agenda was the nomination of PML(Q) candidate for prime minister’s slot which, he added, could be himself or anyone else.

Besides, the PML(Q) will also discuss, and most probably accept, the resignation of party president Mian Mohammad Azhar, and elect a new president, the party sources said.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Majeed Malik, Iftikhar Gilani and Ghaus Bakh Mahar visited Mian Azhar’s residence and held meetings with him to pursue him to tender his resignation.

When questioned about the move of replacing Mian Azhar as party president, Jamali said: “I have not been consulted by anyone on this”.

The party sources told Dawn that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has emerged as top contender to take over from Mian Azhar who was twice elected as party president since March 2002.