Pakistan's ruling party has confirmed it will nominate outgoing textile minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin as its candidate for prime minister on Thursday, moving quickly after the former premier was ousted by the Supreme Court for contempt of court, AP quoted a presidential spokesman as saying. Shahabuddin, who is considered a Pakistan People's Party loyalist, will file nomination papers in parliament by midday, said presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar. The PPP's coalition has a majority in parliament and barring last minute surprises is expected to be able to vote him into office in a session scheduled for Friday. Yousuf Raza Gilani was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Tuesday for contempt of court for failing to initiate a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari, the head of the PPP. PPP politicians almost immediately began to circulate Shahabuddin's name as a replacement.
