Aziz set to become next Pakistan PM

Decks were cleared on Thursday for Pakistan Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to become prime minister after he registered easy victories in two by-elections, which gave him the parliament seat needed to assume the post.

Aziz, a former Citibank executive, won from Attock in Punjab and Tharparker in southern Sindh province defeating the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party candidates by huge margins, according to report.

Aziz, 55, defeated Sikandar Hayat in Attock by 46,718 votes and Mahesh Kumar Malani in Tharparkar by 141,370 votes.

The PPP, headed by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, fielded Malani, a Hindu leader as Tharparkar has a large concentration of Hindu voters.

President Pervez Musharraf's government had made Aziz prime minister-designate after Zafarullah Khan Jamali stepped down in June.

However, Aziz needed to win a seat in the lower house of parliament to take over as PM.

"I am grateful to those who voted for me, and I will do whatever is possible to improve economy and law and order situation in the country," Aziz said.