Pakistan announces early elections, new PM candidate nominatedJune 22, 2012 - 15:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Pakistan's ruling party has announced parliament elections will be held this year, earlier than expected, Belfast Telegraph said. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has also been put forward by the party as its new candidate for prime minister. The announcement came during a news conference in the capital, Islamabad. Later, the parliament is scheduled to vote on Mr Ashraf's candidacy. The ruling coalition has a majority so he is expected to be approved. The news tops a tumultuous week in Pakistani politics. On Tuesday the Supreme Court disqualified Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister for failing to initiate a corruption probe of the president's affairs. A senior Pakistan People's Party member, Khursheed Shah, said that the party had decided on Mr Ashraf after consultations with their coalition partners, many of which also attended the press conference. "Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is our final nominee," he said. Opposition members had been calling for new elections to be held immediately, but the PPP, fearing it would not do well, has been reluctant to do that. Mr Shah did not give a date for the elections, but the earliest they could likely be held is late in the autumn. "This year will be the year of new elections, and we are going for the elections," he said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |