ISLAMABAD, June 26 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Pakistani Premier Zafarullah Jamali told an emergency meeting of his ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and its parliamentary allies Saturday, June 26, he was resigning and dissolving the cabinet.

"I have decided to resign immediately in the interest of the country and the party," Jamali said, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"I have nominated [PML president] Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as new prime minister," he added.

Jamali said Hussain "will take vote of confidence on Monday and we will all support him."

The PML enjoys a commanding majority in the Pakistani legislature.

Jamali noted that outgoing finance minister Shaukat Aziz will take the post of senior minister in the new cabinet.

The outgoing premier boasted that his government remained unblemished.

"There is no charge on me or my cabinet colleagues. My intention was pious and my conscience is clear.

"The party needs to be strengthened and the system will continue to work."

Earlier in the day, Jamali told Pakistani President Musharraf he was stepping down.

Recent weeks have carried increasing reports of differences between the two over Jamali's alleged failure to fully endorse Musharraf's policies, according to the BBC News Online.

It quoted analysts as saying that Jamali was also the victim of a power play in the governing party.