ISLAMABAD: In yet another surprise package delivered by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP); the Prime Minster nominee was changed on Thursday.

It has now been declared that the earlier recommended Prime Minister (PM) candidate, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, would not be submitting his candidature for the post of the PM.

The PPP has now announced former Water and Power Minister, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, to be the Prime Minister candidate.

Political analysts believe this change to be driven because of the ephedrine case. Makhdoom Shahabuddin has been allegedly accused to have approved the unauthorized drug quota, in which Ali Musa Gilani was the primary beneficiary.

It is further anticipated that Raja Pervaiz's name would be further discussed by the PPP with its coalition partners late on Thursday.

Earlier, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf along with Khursheed Shah and Qamar Zaman Kaira filed as the covering candidate for the then proposed PM, Makhdoom Shahabuddin.