PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL<br/> <br />Raja Pervez Ashraf is Pakistan's new prime minister.<br/> <br />The former water and energy minister's been elected by parliament after the incumbent, Yusuf Raza Gilani, was disqualified by the Supreme Court.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: RAJA PERVEZ ASHRAF, NEWLY-ELECTED PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"As a responsible nation Pakistan will continue to play its role as an enabler and facilitator of peace and stability in the region and the world."<br/> <br />Gilani was ruled ineligible after he refused to re-open corruption cases against the president.<br/> <br />Pakistan's military, civilian leadership and the Supreme Court have been manoeuvring to gain the political edge.<br/> <br />President Asif Ali Zardari says Gilani's disqualification is a blow to democracy.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: PAKISTANI PRESIDENT ASIF ALI ZARDARI SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"The detractors of democracy have long been hounding the former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. They thought that the coalition will not be able to agree to a new leader of the house. They hoped that it will give them a chance to send the house packing and create political uncertainty."<br/> <br />The election of Raja Pervez Ashraf as prime minister may not go down well with ordinary Pakistanis.<br/> <br />He's seen by many as a minister who failed to ease the nation's crippling energy crisis which has, at times, led to violent protests.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
