Name of caretaker PM to be announced on Tuesday

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Friday failed to make a headway on the name of caretaker prime minister and decided to hold the final round [of consultations] on Tuesday. “It was decided to hold another round of meeting on Tuesday to finalise and make the name of caretaker prime minister public the same day. Today’s meeting was brief, as the prime minister was due to leave for Istanbul,” said Khursheed Shah while talking to newsmen after holding a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the name of the caretaker PM and the upcoming general election.

The opposition leader said the prime minister had asked him to share the name, if any. “But I told him that I came for consultations and if you have any names then give them to me,” he said, adding: “The prime minister asked me to sit again on Sunday.” Shah said he told the prime minister that he would not be available on Sunday and it would be better that they meet again on Tuesday to which the latter agreed.

The opposition leader said he is positive that they would agree on the name of caretaker premier. Soon after meeting the prime minister, Shah met Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

According to sources, the names of two ex-governors of State Bank of Pakistan – Dr Ishrat Hussain and Dr Shamshad Akhtar — two former chief justices of Supreme Court — Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk — and ex-secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Ishtiaq Ahmad and ex-governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shaukatullah came under discussion.

The incumbent National Assembly will complete its five-year term on May 31 after which the caretaker government will take over to hold general elections. As per the Constitution, the caretaker prime minister is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader in the National Assembly. Both the premier and the opposition leader then present names of three nominees each from which the consensus candidate is appointed as the caretaker prime minister.

Interestingly, the other opposition parties, including the PTI, have apparently abandoned interest in picking a suitable caretaker prime minister. The PTI earlier took up a serious position on the question and made it clear to the leader of the opposition that it wouldn’t accept the caretaker appointed without its consent.

The sources told The News that the caretaker prime minister will be appointed next week on the day when the ongoing session of the National Assembly will be prorogued and it will be last prorogation of the lower house of the parliament of its tenure. The sources said the two leaders have no negative list for the slot and any distinguished personality having background of judiciary, armed forces and civil bureaucracy could be picked for the office.

The two sides have already informally exchanged a few names without divulging to the media or close associates. They have conveyed the proposed names to their respective leaderships.

Since their leadership hasn’t responded with the names of their choice, the Friday’s meeting couldn’t bear fruit, the sources hinted. Interestingly, Khursheed Shah had claimed last week that the prime minister had authorized him to suggest the name of the caretaker prime minister and he had also sought the consent of the prime minister about the name.

He promised to make it public on 15th (Tuesday) but he deferred it for Friday. He had to have another meeting with the prime minister on Friday but without any outcome.

This shows that the leadership of the two sides hasn’t finalised the name/names and in all probability the matter could be dragged to the last days of the National Assembly and the government as well, the sources added.

It is unlikely that the appointment of the caretaker prime minister will be referred to the Parliamentary Committee supposed to be appointed by the Speaker National Assembly or the Election Commission of Pakistan.