Asfandyar Khan and Speaker Fehmida Mirza
Zardari's candidature shouldn't meet opposition from Sharif who has said it's for the PPP to decide who it wants as president. Importantly, Zardari has received the backing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain, who said, "Keeping in view the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto for democracy and after consulting my colleagues, I have come to the conclusion that Asif Ali Zardari should be the next president."
With a Punjabi as prime minister, many think the president should come from one of the other three provinces. This has prompted the political class to name Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan as the most suitable candidate. Hailing from the NWFP, Asfandyar is the Frontier Gandhi's son; his candidature could help restore confidence to a province alienated from the Pakistani state.
There's also much talk of choosing a woman president. Such a move could bolster Pakistan's argument that it is a moderate Muslim nation. In this category, National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza is the favourite. In a lighter vein though, hear what Musharraf had to say about this proposal: "Then what would you do with the likes of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a staunch coalition partner whose party manifesto is vehemently against a woman president? He would never support such a move." Rehman had even refused to support Fehmida for the speaker's post.
