President Arif Alvi writes to PM Imran, Shehbaz to nominate names for caretaker premier

ISLAMABAD: Despite controversies surrounding the dissolution of the National Assembly, President Arif Alvi Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif for the nomination of the caretaker premier.

In a letter titled “Appointment of caretaker prime minister”, the president asked them to initiate the process of appointment of the caretaker PM with the recommendation of suitable names.

“The prime minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may kindly propose a suitable person for the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister as provided in Article 224 (IA) of the Constitution of Pakistan,” he wrote, adding that the incumbent prime minister will continue to hold office till the appointment of the caretaker prime minister.

It added that the caretaker prime minister shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly as per Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

In case, the prime minister and the opposition leader do not agree on any person to be appointed as the caretaker PM, within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, they shall forward two nominees each to a committee to be immediately constituted by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

The committee would comprise eight members of the outgoing National Assembly, or the Senate, or both, having equal representation from the treasury and the opposition benches, to be nominated by the PM and the Leader of the Opposition respectively, in pursuance of Article 224A(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. 

Shahbaz Sharif refuses to be part of process

Meanwhile, PML-N President Shehbaz has refused to be part of the consultative process for the selection caretaker prime minister initiated by President Arif Alvi, saying how can they respond to the letter of a president who has “violated the Constitution”.

He was speaking to the media in Islamabad alongside top Opposition leaders including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto when he was asked to comment on the letter written by the president.

Shahbaz Sharif also said, “we are abiding by the constitution, how is it possible to respond to the unconstitutional letter of the president.”

He asked the Supreme Court to form a full-court bench and punish the violators.

Shahbaz Sharif also said that at present the whole nation is looking towards the apex court.