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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Officials: Jamali Resigns |
| 2004-06-26 |
| Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned Saturday, two senior government officials told The Associated Press, following months of speculation that his relationship with the country's military ruler was strained. Jamali was expected to announce his decision at a meeting of his PML-Q party later in the day, several officials said. The resignation was expected to mean the dissolution of his Cabinet. "He will announce his resignation and will give reasons," a senior ruling party member said on condition of anonymity. A Cabinet minister, who also declined to be named, confirmed Jamali was stepping down. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said he couldn't confirm the news and denied that he had been informed that he was out of a job. "Just wait and see," he said. Jamali's office on Saturday had no official comment. Rumors have circulated for months that relations between Jamali and the country's power broker, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, had chilled. Jamali had sought to quash the reports, even professing his "love" of the general, but Musharraf offered him no clear public support. Observers say Musharraf grew impatient at Jamali's inability to rein in opposition lawmakers and effectively defend Musharraf's policies. |
| Posted by:Fred |