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Gillani elected new Pakistan PM Gillani elected new Pakistan PM
(40 minutes later)
Pakistan's parliament has voted to approve Yusuf Raza Gillani as the country's new prime minister.Pakistan's parliament has voted to approve Yusuf Raza Gillani as the country's new prime minister.
The former parliamentary speaker was the candidate of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) that emerged the main winner of the recent elections. Mr Gillani was the candidate of the Pakistan People's Party that emerged the main winner of the recent polls.
This opens the way for the formation of a government made up of opponents to President Pervez Musharraf.
This is the first time in 12 years that the PPP will head the government, a coalition with a substantial majority.This is the first time in 12 years that the PPP will head the government, a coalition with a substantial majority.
Mr Gillani immediately said he would seek the release of all judges detained after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule in November.
Dozens of judges were forced out of their posts by Mr Musharraf. Most have since been freed from detention, but former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is among those still under house arrest.
Mr Gillani also said he would seek a resolution calling for a UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Jail sentenceJail sentence
The PPP nominated Mr Gillani as its candidate at the weekend.The PPP nominated Mr Gillani as its candidate at the weekend.
Mr Musharraf (R) was badly weakened by the February electionsMr Musharraf (R) was badly weakened by the February elections
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that Mr Gillani is much admired within the PPP. He resisted pressure from President Musharraf to desert the PPP, refusing to do any deals with him.The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that Mr Gillani is much admired within the PPP. He resisted pressure from President Musharraf to desert the PPP, refusing to do any deals with him.
He went to jail in 2001, serving five years following a conviction over illegal government appointments. The former parliamentary speaker went to jail in 2001, serving five years following a conviction over illegal government appointments.
The sentence was passed by an anti-corruption court formed by President Musharraf as part of what he termed measures to cleanse politics. His opponents say it was a means of intimidating and coercing their members to join his government. The sentence was passed by an anti-corruption court formed by President Musharraf as part of what he termed measures to cleanse politics.
His opponents say it was a means of intimidating and coercing their members to join his government.
He will be facing token opposition from President Musharraf's allies, who were soundly defeated in recent elections.He will be facing token opposition from President Musharraf's allies, who were soundly defeated in recent elections.
He will have the daunting task of holding together a large coalition, tackling Islamic militancy and severe economic problems.He will have the daunting task of holding together a large coalition, tackling Islamic militancy and severe economic problems.
'Full term''Full term'
The PPP, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December, emerged as the biggest party in the February elections.The PPP, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December, emerged as the biggest party in the February elections.
Ms Bhutto's widower is still the PPP's most powerful figure, say analystsMs Bhutto's widower is still the PPP's most powerful figure, say analysts
It is now headed by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.It is now headed by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.
On Monday he was quoted in The News newspaper as saying that Mr Gillani would serve a full five-year term as prime minister.On Monday he was quoted in The News newspaper as saying that Mr Gillani would serve a full five-year term as prime minister.
There has been widespread speculation that Mr Zardari only wants the next prime minister to hold the post on an interim basis while Mr Zardari takes the necessary steps to make himself eligible to become prime minister.There has been widespread speculation that Mr Zardari only wants the next prime minister to hold the post on an interim basis while Mr Zardari takes the necessary steps to make himself eligible to become prime minister.
That would include Mr Zardari winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election.That would include Mr Zardari winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election.
President Musharraf's power base was badly weakened in the elections. He now faces the prospect of the next government attempting to restore judges sacked by Mr Musharraf in November. President Musharraf's power base was badly weakened in the elections.
The Supreme Court had been set to rule on whether Mr Musharraf's re-election as president had been legal. He earlier sacked the judges because the Supreme Court had been set to rule on whether his re-election as president was legal.