— PM hopeful to evolve consensus in today’s meeting
— President asks PM, Raja Riaz to finalize name of caretaker PM until Aug 12
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that he was confident that the name of the caretaker premier would be finalised by today (Saturday).
“The coalition partners will be taken into confidence over the matter before taking a final decision,” the prime minister confirmed this during a conversation with journalists in Islamabad.
PM Shehbaz also said that the Constitution provided eight days for the appointment of the caretaker premier.
A day after the premature dissolution of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz met outgoing Leader of the Opposition in the NA Raja Riaz to exchange a list of probable candidates for the coveted slot as formal consultations on the matter kicked off.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Riaz said six names came under consideration for the job, adding that they were in no hurry to decide the name for the caretaker PM.
The leaders are also expected to hold a second meeting today for further deliberations.
According to the Constitution, the premier and the outgoing opposition leader in the NA have three days to decide the name of the interim prime minister.
In case the two fail to agree on a name, the matter would be referred to a parliamentary committee. If the committee fails to make any decision, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have two days to choose the caretaker prime minister from the list of names shared with the commission.
Some in political circles believe that PM Shehbaz wants to stay in office till Aug 14 so he could attend the flag-hoisting ceremony on Independence Day, after which a caretaker premier will take an oath.
As per the Constitution, PM Shehbaz can act as the caretaker prime minister till the appointment of the head of the interim set-up. Article 94 of the Constitution says, “The president may ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of prime minister.”
One of the reasons for delay in deciding the name of the head of interim set-up is believed to be the PML-N’s desire to see its own man in office. Sources said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari were calling the shots on the issue of the appointment of the caretaker PM in consultation with the “third party”.
President asks PM, Raja Riaz to finalize name of caretaker PM until Aug 12
President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday asked the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the outgoing National Assembly to propose a suitable person for appointment of Care-taker Prime Minister not later than August 12, 2023.
In a letter to the prime minister and the opposition leader, President Alvi said under Article 224-A of the Constitution, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly were required to propose name of a person for appointment of care-taker prime minister within three days of dissolution of National Assembly.
“Under proviso to Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution, the president appoints care-taker prime minister in consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly”, he added.
He said the prime minister advised him on August 9 for dissolution of National Assembly under Article 58 (1) of the Constitution which he approved and dissolved the assembly on same day.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of Constitution of Pakistan, Prime Minister and leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for appointment of care-taker prime minister not later than August 12, 2023,” the president added.
