It is mighty curious that the front runner to replace Raza Gilani as Pakistan Prime Minister is the texiles minister Makhdoom and not Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, a former defence minister. Is it not reasonable to believe that when a list of probable appointments to the PM’s post was run by General Kayani, Mukhtar’s name was nixed by the army chief. If so why? One can speculate about two reasons. One, that because the army would like to have the upper hand, GHQ has more secrets about Makhdoom and has okayed his appointment because he will then be more malleable, especially at a time when delicate negotiations are on with the US over Afghanistan. etc..  And two, contrarily, that the Pak army desired a relatively clean PM for a change and Makhdoom was the better bet.