The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Oneline

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has named a close associate of her husband as parliamentary speaker.

Fahmida Mirza, a businesswoman, will be Pakistan's first female speaker of the national assembly if she is approved in a vote on Wednesday.

But correspondents say divisions remain over who should be the next PM.

Fahmida Mirza, 51, is an experienced politician from Ms Bhutto's home town in the province of Sindh.

Her husband, Zulfiqar Mirza, is a long standing ally of Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower and now the PPP's leader.

Zulfiqar Mirza sits in the Sindh provincial assembly.

The new parliament - comprising opponents of President Musharraf who swept to victory in last month's elections - met for the first time on Monday.