The ruling alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)has said that they have not shortlist the names for the caretaker Prime Minister yet, and their representatives would meet next week to reach a consensus on this matter.
The current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, will complete its term on 12th August. According to the constitution, the appointment of the caretaker Prime Minister is made through consultation between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. After the consultation the President would be taken on board by the Prime Minister. If the National Assembly completes its term, elections would have held within 60 days, and if the Assembly is dissolved before completing its constitutional term, elections would be held within 90 days.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders, Ahsan Iqbal and Faisal Kareem Kundi, have expressed reservations about finalizing any name for the caretaker PM’s position. They are waiting for the committee meeting of both parties next week to discuss possible names.
However, some local media are circulating reports suggesting the presence of various names for the position.
PPP’s Central Information Secretary, Faisal Kareem Kundi, also confirmed that no name has been shared yet, and the committee meetings of both parties will be held next week to decide on this matter.
Last week, as the head of PML(N) Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif formed a five-member committee of his party to hold discussions with political stakeholders regarding the caretaker Prime Minister.
The committee includes Ahsan Iqbal, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Iyaz Sadique, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Khawaja Muhammad Asif from the PML(N) side, while the PPP team includes former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Khurshid Shah, and Syed Naveed Qamar.
Faisal Kareem Kundi said that the caretaker Prime Minister should be “impartial,” whether he is a politician or a technocrat, and must be strong enough to ensure free, fair, and timely elections throughout the country.
He said, “A person who has been part of the cabinet or holds a position in any party cannot be an appropriate candidate. The caretaker Prime Minister should be someone on whom both the opposition and the government agree, and no one can raise a finger on his impartiality.”
Regarding the dissolution of the assembly, he stated that his party’s clear stance is that elections should be held on time, whether it is within 60 days or 90 days.
Hafiz Hamdullah, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), also confirmed that their party, Jammiat Ulma-i-Islam -Fazal (JUI-F), or any other coalition party, has not yet proposed any name.
He termed the media reports rumors and nothing else. He said that one or two parties cannot decide the name of the caretaker Prime Minister because this decision will be taken by all the 13 parties of the PDM and other coalition partners as a party can only suggest a name, but the final decision will be made through consensus among all coalition parties.
It is expected that PML-N’s committee will meet the head of PDM Maulana Fazal-ur -Rehman, in the coming days to discuss this matter and decide the final date for dissolution of the assemblies.