Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has indicated that the name of caretaker prime minister is likely to be decided after the final round of consultation with opposition leader Raja Riaz in Islamabad today (Saturday).
If the prime minister and Riyadh do not agree on a name today, the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee, as Saturday, August 9, is the third and final day for a decision in the wake of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
In his address to coalition party leaders at a dinner last night, the prime minister hinted at his expected meeting with the opposition leader to finalize a name for the top government post.
“I met Raja Riaz yesterday, I will meet him tomorrow,” he said, adding that the second round of their meeting, which was scheduled for Friday, was postponed due to his busy schedule and visit to Lahore. was
According to reports, Raja Riaz has proposed the name of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for the interim prime minister, with general elections likely to be held early next year.
The Prime Minister’s comments came after President Dr Arif Alvi wrote a letter to him, reminding him and the Leader of the Opposition to suggest a “suitable person” for the interim Prime Minister by August 12 (Saturday). has been done.
In a letter written to both Prime Minister Shehbaz and Riaz, the President told them that under Article 224A, they have to propose a name for the caretaker prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may recommend a suitable person for the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister after August 12”. In the letter, President Alvi…
Commenting on President Alvi’s letter, Prime Minister Shehbaz said: “It is a pity that the President of Pakistan has written the letter.”
The Prime Minister further said that the President has asked him to send the name of the Caretaker Prime Minister by 12 midnight.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the matter of finalizing the name of the interim prime minister will take eight days.
According to the country’s constitution, if the prime minister and the opposition leader in the National Assembly cannot agree on a name within three days, the matter goes to the parliamentary committee to appoint a caretaker prime minister.
According to the law, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will send their respective priorities to the parliamentary delegation.
After that, the parliamentary committee will have to finalize the name of caretaker prime minister within three days. But if the committee also fails to reach a consensus on the names, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will select a caretaker prime minister within two days from among the names suggested by the opposition and the government.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Friday, the Prime Minister said that the coalition parties will be taken into confidence on the matter before taking a final decision.
“Nawaz Sharif for national interest”
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Ahsan Iqbal spoke about the first meeting between the prime minister and Riyadh on Thursday (August 10) to decide on a name for the interim prime minister. After which Prime Minister Shehbaz consulted with the allies.
“Hopefully, the decision will be taken by consensus, which requires a lot of consultation,” he said, explaining how the process could be slowed down by deliberations.
The former minister said that the matter of caretaker prime minister will be resolved amicably.
He also clarified that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif did not insist on any particular name. The party actually wanted a decision to be made in the interest of the country which was to continue the policy of the Shehbaz led government after the economic condition of Pakistan.
Iqbal said that continuity is necessary in the economic situation of the country.
Iqbal’s clarification came in response to allegations that his party was pushing its own members for the coveted post.
Meanwhile, no name was officially announced by the PML-N, but the names of former finance minister Ishaq Dar and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were doing the rounds for the past few weeks.
The former minister asserted that the caretaker prime minister will choose his own caretaker cabinet.
