PESHAWAR, Jan 13: Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday nominated Syed Zahir Ali Shah as the NWFP president of the party, confirmed PPP sources.

Mr Shah, who is provincial health minister, joined the party in 2001. Benazir Bhutto had nominated him divisional (Peshawar) president of the party. During her Peshawar tour, she addressed a workers’ meeting and press conference at the residence of Mr Shah. She also kicked off PPP’s electioneering from the same place.

Mr Shah earned the trust of central leadership during the 2002 Senate elections, when he polled his lone vote in favour of PPP nominee, Sardar Ali Khan, who lost the election. He won his provincial assembly seat twice from Peshawar city. He replaced Rahimdad Khan, senior provincial minister and a taciturn politician from Mardan.

Mr Shah belongs to an old business family of Peshawar city.