Weak Possible Explanation
I was taught the following sequence for stall or incipient stall recovery:
- Nose on horizon
- apply power
- retract flaps when airspeed adequate
It is therefore possible the PF pulled back to get the nose on the horizon. He may have glanced at the PFD and thought he saw nose low (turbulence maybe) and scanned on to other instruments.
I know, its a stretch, but there must have been SOME reason for what he did.