The State - News from Dec. 1, 1988

The selection of Benazir Bhutto as Pakistan’s new prime minister and the first female premier of a Muslim country appeared virtually certain after her main rival dropped out of contention. Mian Nawaz Sharif, of the Islamic Democratic Alliance, chose to remain in the Punjab provincial assembly rather than take a seat in the National Assembly. That cleared the way for Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, to be named today by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan to try to form a government. Bhutto, 35, and other newly elected members were sworn in at the National Assembly in Islamabad.