Accord to let panel pick interim PM

ISLAMABAD: Following the deadlock between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on the name of the caretaker prime minister, it was decided to take the matter into the Parliamentary Committee for the final decision.

The nine-members Parliamentary Committee would be constituted by the Speaker National Assembly which comprises of four members from the government and same members from the opposition.

According to sources, from opposition two members from the PPP while each member from PTI and MQM whereas the government will decide its four members.

Sources said the government would name the ex-governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Shamshad Akhtar and Justice (R) Tassaduq Jilani for the care taker prime minister while the PPP would name Zaka Ashraf and Jalil Abbass Jilani for the caretaker prime minister.

The Parliamentary Committee will take the decision on the basis of majority to pick the name of caretaker PM.

It is to be mentioned that the PTI had also suggested the name of Justice (R) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, while the government also has name for the post and if the government and PTI agree on his name in the Parliamentary Party then Justice (R) Tassaduq Hussain Jilani may be appointed as a caretaker PM.

According to Article 224 of the Constitution, which reads as, “224A: (1) In case the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly do not agree on any person to be appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister, 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, comprising eight members of the outgoing National Assembly, or the Senate, or both, having equal representation from the Treasury and the Opposition, to be nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition respectively.(2) In case a Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Provincial Assembly do not agree on any person to be appointed as the caretaker Chief Minister, within three days of the dissolution of that Assembly, they shall forward two nominees each to a Committee to be immediately constituted by the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, comprising six members of the outgoing Provincial Assembly having equal representation from the Treasury and the Opposition, to be nominated by the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition respectively. (3) The Committee constituted under clause (1) or (2) shall finalise the name of the caretaker Prime Minister or caretaker Chief Minister, as the case may be, within three days of the referral of the matter to it:

Provided that in case of inability of the Committee to decide the matter in the aforesaid period, the names of the nominees shall be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan for final decision within two days. (4) The incumbent Prime Minister and the incumbent Chief Minister shall continue to hold office till appointment of the caretaker Prime Minister and the caretaker Chief Minister, as the case may be. (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (1) and (2), if the members of the Opposition are less than five in the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and less than four in any Provincial Assembly, then all of them shall be members of the Committee mentioned in the aforesaid clauses and the Committee shall be deemed to be duly constituted.