Pakistan to hold early elections

Pakistan’s ruling party has announced parliament elections will be held this year, earlier than expected.

The party has also put forward Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as its new candidate for prime minister.

The announcement came during a news conference in the capital, Islamabad.

The parliament is scheduled to vote on Mr Ashraf’s candidacy later. The ruling coalition has a majority so he is expected to be approved.

The news tops a tumultuous week in Pakistani politics. On Tuesday the Supreme Court disqualified Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister for failing to initiate a corruption probe of the president’s affairs.