Ishaq Dar 'crowned as interim PM' via fake news: Sherry Rehman

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader and Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Monday rubbished media reports claiming Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and her party reached a consensus on the name of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister.

Addressing a joint press conference flanked by PPP spokesperson and Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Faisal Kareem Kundi, Rehman said: “A person was crowned as caretaker prime minister via fake news yesterday [Sunday].”

“The PPP believes in free, fair and on-time elections,” she said, adding that it will take some more time to finalise a name for the caretaker PM.

Responding to a question, the minister said that the PPP prefers the formulation of an impartial caretaker setup.

“Neither any name was shared with the PPP nor we agreed on any name [for caretaker PM],” she added.

Meanwhile, PPP spokesperson Kundi said: “We would have presented our names if any name [for caretaker PM] had been shared with the PPP.”

The PPP had cleared its stance time and again on the assembly’s constitutional term and elections in 60 days.

PPP 'willing' to consider Dar as interim PM

As per the media reports, the PPP has not ruled out the possibility of accepting Ishaq Dar, the incumbent finance minister and a senior PML-N leader, as the caretaker prime minister.

Both major coalition partners have agreed that a politician should be appointed as the head of the interim set-up, with PPP's Qamar Zaman Kaira saying that no politician can be appointed as a judge and vice versa.

The PML-N, according to sources, has finalised the name of Dar as the caretaker PM. They told Geo News that the government committee formed on the matter is taking all other political parties in confidence on the matter.

Earlier, in a conversation with Geo News, Kundi said the PML-N is yet to apprise his party that Dar's name is under consideration.

"In the future, if Ishaq Dar's name is proposed, we can discuss it. The party's senior leadership will decide over the name of the caretaker prime minister," he added.

The PPP leader also said just like the PML-N, every party is holding consultations within, and his party's consultations are not over yet. "We have not finalised anyone's name yet."

Kundi said a formal announcement would be made once the name is finalised.

On the other hand, when asked during an interview about his possible appointment, Dar did not deny it. "I have always fulfilled my duties whenever I am appointed to any position."

Meanwhile, the government is also about to amend Section 230 of the Election Act 2017 — which relates to the functions of a caretaker government — before its term comes to an end.

Well-placed parliamentary sources told The News the two houses of the Parliament would separately adopt the Electoral Reforms Bill introducing major changes to the Election Act-2017 this week.

The proposed reforms would enhance the powers of the caretaker government to transact important matters of national significance, much beyond day-to-day affairs.

Top PPP and PML-N leaders are also in Dubai once again to discuss elections and the caretaker set-up. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also set to join them.

What's the process of caretaker PM's appointment?

The process of officially appointing a caretaker prime minister will be triggered after the government dissolves the National Assembly — and sources say they plan on doing it on August 8.

Article 224 of the Constitution explains the process of appointment of a caretaker government at the Centre and provinces.

Until the formation of a caretaker government, PM Shehbaz will continue his duties as the prime minister, albeit for a few days.

It is only incumbent National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, out of all elected representatives, who will hold his position until the newly-elected lawmakers take an oath and elect his replacement.

For the formation of a caretaker government, PM Shehbaz will write to the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, within 48 hours of the dissolution of the assembly, seeking three names for the caretaker prime minister and will suggest three names himself.

In case, an impasse between the two leaders lasts for three days on the nominee, the NA speaker will form a committee comprising six members of the outgoing assembly with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition.

To the committee, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition will forward two nominees each.

The committee then will have three days to evolve consensus on one name. If that fails as well, then the names of the nominees will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan for a final decision within two days.

The selected nominee will perform the duties as the interim PM until the formation of a new government in the Centre. The caretaker PM also has the power to induct cabinet members.