ISLAMABAD: Amid a guessing game as to who will be the caretaker PM, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah will hold a crucial meeting today (Tuesday).
All the eyes are set on Syed Khursheed Shah as he would likely make the crucial announcement today (Tuesday). Though there were reports that the PM and opposition leader had reached a consensus on the name of the caretaker PM, sources insisted that last-minute consultation would further delay making the name public. “If everything is in right direction, the name would be announced but if some disagreements on the caretaker cabinet occurs, the announcement of the caretaker PM may get delayed for some more days,” the sources told The News.
But sources close to opposition leader insisted that consensus almost reached between the leader of the house and leader of the opposition with regard to caretaker PM and now only the consultations were going on the caretaker cabinet that would be formed once the caretaker PM took oath after the expiry of the constitutional term of the present government.
The five names under consideration for the post include former Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon, former State Bank governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi, former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and former State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Hussain.
The PPP has finalised the names of former chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf and ex-foreign secretary Jalil Abbass Jilani for the post. Syed Khursheed Shah has forwarded these names to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi in a Friday meeting.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has telephoned Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf and Jalil Abbass Jilani informing them of the party’s decision. While in a press talk with the newsmen on Monday with regard to caretaker PM, Khursheed shah said it is expected that the name of caretaker PM would be announced after the meeting with the prime minister but if name was not finalized, it would take a few more days.