The Pakistan People's Party is set to announce its candidate for prime minister later on Saturday even as the opposition withdrew their nominee for the post following a request from PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Friday decided to withdraw party leader Farooq Sattar as its joint candidate with ally PML-Q for sthe post of prime minister, paving the way for the PPP nominee to be elected unopposed.

PPP spokesperson Sherry Rehman said that party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will name the prime ministerial candidate on Saturday night.

The new prime minister will unveil an action plan to tackle challenges confronting Pakistan within the first 100 days of the new government coming to power, she said.

President Pervez Musharraf [Images] has summoned the National Assembly on March 24 to elect the new Prime Minister, and the deadline for filing nominations for the post is 2 pm on March 23.

In a setback to opposition PML-Q, London-based MQM chief Altaf Hussain decided to withdraw Sattar from the premiership race yesterday following a request from Zardari, MQM leaders said.

Sattar said the MQM had not attached any conditions to its decision though observers said the move was made with an eye on joining the government to be formed by the PPP in Sindh province.

It was not clear whether the PML-Q would put up another candidate.