Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf quits smoking

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minster Raja Pervez Ashraf has given up smoking, becoming the only member of Pakistan's power troika of premier, president and army chief to stop using tobacco, according to a media report on Wednesday. Ashraf made the decision to quit smoking when he was in Mecca in October to perform Haj at the special invitation of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

President Asif Zardari, who too is a smoker, appreciated Ashraf's decision and hinted he too would quit, The News reported today. Kayani, known to be a chain smoker, resumed smoking after staying away from the habit for 20 years. He resumed smoking when he was the vice chief.

The daily quoted its sources in the Prime Minister's House as saying that the staff was pleased with Ashraf's decision as his physicians had been advising him for many months to quit smoking. Ashraf was a smoker for over 30 years.

Ashraf made the decision to quit smoking when he was in Mecca in October to perform Haj.

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