Islamabad, Mar.24 : The Pakistan National Assembly has begun a session to elect the new Prime Minister with Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza in the chair.

The House is to elect the new Prime Minister through a division mechanism as no secret vote is held for such an election.

Makhdoom Yousaf Raza Gillani, the candidate nominated by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian and its allied parties, would contest Chaudhery Pervez Elahi, the candidate of PML-Q and its allies for premiership.

According to The News, the members of National Assembly would participate in the proceedings under rule 35 of the Rules of Business to elect the new prime minister. The House to elect the new Prime Minister of the country through a division mechanism as no secret vote is held for election of the Prime Minister.

The PPP-led alliance has already demonstrated its strength in the National Assembly during the Speaker's election when its candidate Dr Fahmida Mirza secured 249 votes while Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi polled 246. Now the MQM, which has 25 members in the National Assembly, will also vote for Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The National Assembly has total strength of 342 members but its existing strength is 330, as 12 seats stand vacated. There is strong possibility that Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani would secure more than 274 votes to be elected the 27th Prime Minister of the country.

After adjournment of the session the Speaker would send the name of the winning candidate to the president under Rule 38 of the Rules of Business.

The Secretary would issue the notification about the Leader of the House later tonight.