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| Pakistan drugs force issues warrant for man who is favourite to be PM | |
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| Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Thursday as efforts to appoint a new prime minister hit an immediate snag when counter-narcotics authorities issued an arrest warrant against the leading candidate for the job. | Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Thursday as efforts to appoint a new prime minister hit an immediate snag when counter-narcotics authorities issued an arrest warrant against the leading candidate for the job. |
| Makhdoom Shahabuddin has been accused of helping to supply ingredients to illegal methamphetamine producers only two days after political chaos was sparked by the supreme court's decision to disqualify Yousaf Raza Gilani who was prime minister from March 2008 until Tuesday. His dismissal decried by some as a "judicial coup". Shahabuddin was favourite to succeed Gilani. | Makhdoom Shahabuddin has been accused of helping to supply ingredients to illegal methamphetamine producers only two days after political chaos was sparked by the supreme court's decision to disqualify Yousaf Raza Gilani who was prime minister from March 2008 until Tuesday. His dismissal decried by some as a "judicial coup". Shahabuddin was favourite to succeed Gilani. |
| Shahabuddin had won a swift endorsement from the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as the man to lead the government as it limps towards the end of its term in February next year. His nomination is due to be voted on in parliament on Friday. | Shahabuddin had won a swift endorsement from the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) as the man to lead the government as it limps towards the end of its term in February next year. His nomination is due to be voted on in parliament on Friday. |
| But his appointment has been thrown into doubt by the decision of an anti-narcotics force magistrate to order Shahabuddin's arrest on charges of approving the supply of an enormous quantity of ephedrine to two pharmaceutical companies during his time as health minister. | But his appointment has been thrown into doubt by the decision of an anti-narcotics force magistrate to order Shahabuddin's arrest on charges of approving the supply of an enormous quantity of ephedrine to two pharmaceutical companies during his time as health minister. |
| Drug control officials say the 2,500kg allotted to the two companies involved was far in excess of anything required for the substance's legal use for making cold medicines. The two companies are accused of passing the ephedrine on to illegal producers of methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug which is increasingly in use in South Asia. | Drug control officials say the 2,500kg allotted to the two companies involved was far in excess of anything required for the substance's legal use for making cold medicines. The two companies are accused of passing the ephedrine on to illegal producers of methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug which is increasingly in use in South Asia. |
| According to Pakistani media reports, the arrest warrant also ordered the detention of Ali Musa Gilani, the son of the recently deposed prime minister, for his alleged involvement. | According to Pakistani media reports, the arrest warrant also ordered the detention of Ali Musa Gilani, the son of the recently deposed prime minister, for his alleged involvement. |
| Although Shahabuddin has been linked to the case for some time, the timing of the arrest warrant is seen as deeply suspicious. Many observers assume that either the country's powerful military establishment or the increasingly assertive judiciary must be behind the decision. | Although Shahabuddin has been linked to the case for some time, the timing of the arrest warrant is seen as deeply suspicious. Many observers assume that either the country's powerful military establishment or the increasingly assertive judiciary must be behind the decision. |
| "This whole thing is being used to weaken the case against him as prime minister," said Mehreen Zahra-Malik, the assistant editor of The News. "One has to look at it as part of a wider political calculation by his rivals." | "This whole thing is being used to weaken the case against him as prime minister," said Mehreen Zahra-Malik, the assistant editor of The News. "One has to look at it as part of a wider political calculation by his rivals." |
| Even if Shahabuddin's nomination is derailed, there are grave doubts whether the PPP-led government will be able to cling on to any prime minister it succeeds in appointing. | Even if Shahabuddin's nomination is derailed, there are grave doubts whether the PPP-led government will be able to cling on to any prime minister it succeeds in appointing. |
| Anyone who takes on the job is likely to run immediately into the legal quagmire that led to the downfall of Gilani – a demand by the supreme court that he write a letter to Swiss authorities formally asking for long dormant money laundering allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari to be reopened. | Anyone who takes on the job is likely to run immediately into the legal quagmire that led to the downfall of Gilani – a demand by the supreme court that he write a letter to Swiss authorities formally asking for long dormant money laundering allegations against President Asif Ali Zardari to be reopened. |
| During months of skirmishing with the country's top judges, Gilani was able to resist the demand until finally, on Tuesday, the supreme court disqualified him and banned him from parliament for five years. | During months of skirmishing with the country's top judges, Gilani was able to resist the demand until finally, on Tuesday, the supreme court disqualified him and banned him from parliament for five years. |
| Raza Rumi, policy director of the Jinnah Institute thinktank, said it was inevitable the court would simply reissue its demand to make the request to Switzerland, only this time there would be few legal delaying tactics. | Raza Rumi, policy director of the Jinnah Institute thinktank, said it was inevitable the court would simply reissue its demand to make the request to Switzerland, only this time there would be few legal delaying tactics. |
| "If the next prime minister refuses to write that letter, he might survive for a couple of weeks or maybe a month before facing disqualification by the court," he said. "A similar clash with the supreme court is absolutely on the cards." | "If the next prime minister refuses to write that letter, he might survive for a couple of weeks or maybe a month before facing disqualification by the court," he said. "A similar clash with the supreme court is absolutely on the cards." |
| Continued deadlock between the court and the government will smother any hopes of the country grappling with the many serious problems it faces, including Taliban militancy on its western border, a crippling energy crisis and a freefalling economy. | Continued deadlock between the court and the government will smother any hopes of the country grappling with the many serious problems it faces, including Taliban militancy on its western border, a crippling energy crisis and a freefalling economy. |
| The crisis may ultimately force fresh elections, robbing the PPP of its goal of becoming the first government in Pakistan's history to finish a full five-year term in office. | The crisis may ultimately force fresh elections, robbing the PPP of its goal of becoming the first government in Pakistan's history to finish a full five-year term in office. |