Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's president has summoned the lower house of parliament to meet Friday to elect a new prime minister after the nation's top court ruled that Yousuf Raza Gilani is ineligible to hold office. The session is set to convene early Friday, said Mehboob Gurmaini, a parliament spokesman. President Asif Ali Zardari postponed a trip to Russia to huddle with senior members of his Pakistan Peoples Party to nominate a candidate. Pakistan state television reported Makhdoom Shahabuddin, a longtime member of parliament who has served in several administrations, was selected. The candidate served as Gilani's textile minister.
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President picks candidate for prime minister, state TV says
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Pakistan's president has called on parliament to meet Friday
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The lower house will choose a new prime minister
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The high court disqualified Yousuf Raza Gilani to hold office because of contempt charges
Islamabad
Hours after the court issued its ruling, Gilani had vacated the sprawling prime minister's residence in @placeholder with his political future in doubt.