Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's president has summoned the lower house of parliament to meet Friday to elect a new prime minister after the nation's top court ruled that Yousuf Raza Gilani is ineligible to hold office. The session is set to convene early Friday, said Mehboob Gurmaini, a parliament spokesman. President Asif Ali Zardari postponed a trip to Russia to huddle with senior members of his Pakistan Peoples Party to nominate a candidate. Pakistan state television reported Makhdoom Shahabuddin, a longtime member of parliament who has served in several administrations, was selected. The candidate served as Gilani's textile minister.
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President picks candidate for prime minister, state TV says
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Pakistan's president has called on parliament to meet Friday
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The lower house will choose a new prime minister
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The high court disqualified Yousuf Raza Gilani to hold office because of contempt charges
Hours after the court issued its ruling, Gilani had vacated the sprawling prime minister's residence in @placeholder with his political future in doubt.