PML-N not to propose names for caretaker PM

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided not to propose names for the slot of caretaker prime minister and has practically surrendered options to opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), thus paving a way to have a consensus caretaker PM in June.

“Nawaz Sharif has conveyed this to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi following that PM Abbasi has also informed this to Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah during his April 11 meeting held in Islamabad,” a key leader of PML-N shared this information with The News here on Thursday.

The incumbent PML-N government is all set to end its five-year tenure by the end of next month.

There were strong possibilities that both PML-N and PPP would not agree on any consensus candidate, in case both give panels of their choice.

The sources claim that Nawaz Sharif wants that instead of “anyone else,” the slot of caretaker prime minister should be filled in by the recommendation of the political parties.

Sources claim that Nawaz Sharif knew that in case of recommending names by his party, opposition PPP would not accept anyone of them and matter would ultimately reach Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which he did not want.

The sources claim that Nawaz Sharif was also whispered recently about the names of Fakhar Imam and some others for the slot by different quarters however he refused accepting any name.

Another reason for surrendering options for recommending anyone for slot is to woo PPP and its Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari who these days is severely criticising Nawaz Sharif and his party.

The sources claim that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has told Khursheed Shah to have consensus among others.

In this regard, Khursheed Shah after getting approval from his party leadership has deliberated upon the name of caretaker PM, with other parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and PML-Q. In this regard he has reportedly finalised some named for the slot.

In this regard, Senator Pervaiz Rashid said, “PML.N has surrendered options and we want that this time opposition should fill in the slot. He confirmed that his leader Nawaz Sharif had decided not to recommend any name for the slot of caretaker PM.”

“The process of finalising the name for the caretaker PM must not be secret? Why there is so much secrecy?” Fawaz Ch, the central spokesman of PTI questioned when contacted by this correspondent. Fawad Ch while responding to a recent statement of the opposition leader said if PPP did not consult anymore with PTI, his party would not consult PPP in KP and Punjab.

He said that politicians should be mature enough to finalise the name of a caretaker setup.