Pakistan's parliament chooses moderate prime minister - Pro-Taliban candidate rejected

Associated Press | November 21, 2002

[HAL9000]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) --

Pakistan's parliament rejected a pro-Taliban candidate and chose Zafarullah Khan Jamali, a moderate who has the support of the powerful army, to be the country's prime minister on Thursday as the country lurches toward a return to civilian rule.

Jamali's election paved the way for the formation of a coalition government that will bring together the pro-army faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, dissident members of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party and independent members of parliament.

The pro-Taliban candidate, Fazlur Rahman, was a distant second in the race to become prime minister.

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[truth_seeker]

Smart move. Ultimately this war on terrorism will come to a measurement, nation by nation, about which side of the issue the nation is on.

It will occur for years. Hopefully the coalition of "civilized" nations will strengthen, particularly if regime change in Iraq is a success.

Sadly, terror attacks in Europe, Asia, also portend to strengthen the coalition.

The big muslim countries have a LOT riding on their choices, namely Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc.

[USMMA_83]

Nothing smart about it. Musharraf basically rejected the majority parties candidate. He's in line for a bullet...the sooner the better. Then, we can finally start cleaning house over there.

[swarthyguy]

LOL! A Pakistani moderate! Yeah, we'll see.

He likes beheading with a sharp knife instead of a blunt one.