Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the parliament to meet on Friday (June 22) to elect a new prime minister.

In a statement, the presidency said the National Assembly would be convened on Friday afternoon.

A government official confirmed that the purpose of the meeting was to elect a new premier.

The official didn’t give his name because he wasn’t authorised to speak on the record about internal decisions.

Earlier today, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Khurshid Shah told reporters that a session of the National Assembly would be convened on Friday at 5:30pm to elect the new prime minister.

Shah said nomination papers for premiership could be submitted on Thursday.

Media reports have been speculating on three possible picks, all members of the outgoing Cabinet.

Ahmed Mukhtar, minister for water and power, and textiles minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin, appear to have emerged as the front runners.