On Tuesday, Musharraf summoned the new parliament to meet on March 17, setting up a showdown with his rivals that could potentially intensify the country's political chaos.

Despite mounting pressure, the president made it clear that he was not ready to resign.

"We have to move forward in a way that we bring about a stable democratic government to Pakistan," said Musharraf.

Analysts expected clashes ahead but did not dismiss the possibility that the parliament could hammer out a compromise, as Zardari seemed less keen on a fight with Musharraf than Sharif. And investors in Pakistan remained optimistic that any confrontation between the parliament and the president would be short-lived.

Premier choice deferred

The PPP is expected to nominate Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a long time aide from the province of Sindh, as its candidate for premiership. But the party turned out to be tardy in naming its Prime Minister candidate, deepening uncertainty about the power-sharing within the new government.

As a senior leader of the PPP, Fahim was the parliamentary leader of the PPP in the National Assembly and presidential candidate in October 2007.

Local newspaper The Nation reported Monday that Fahim was facing opposition from Sharif, who doubted Fahim's intention to carry out the coalition government's agenda of restoring the deposed judges after he is appointed Prime Minister.

Sharif also believed Fahim might be reluctant for Musharraf impeached by the parliament if the option was considered at some later stage.

Zardari, who had said in public repeatedly that Fahim would be nominated as the PM candidate, shifted his rhetoric, saying the PPP would review its earlier decisions on the PM slot.

Reports said that Zardari, who is not immediately eligible to be premier, had finally decided to seek the post after initially fielding a Prime Minister from Punjab province.

The PPP is expected to finalize its candidate for the office of the Prime Minister in a couple of days, the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)