— PPP, stakeholders object to Dar’s nomination as caretaker PM
— No possibility of Dar’s becoming caretaker PM: Kh Asif
ISLAMABAD: Efforts of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to get Finance Minister Ishaq Dar appointed as caretaker prime minister have suffered a major setback as neither the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) nor other stakeholders are ready to accept Dar as caretaker PM.
Well informed sources say that successive meetings between PPP’s Asif Zardari and PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif have failed to reach consensus over Dar and the matter may be discussed later in the week when PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman joins the duo.
Fazl is about to dash to Dubai where the talks between coalition partners have entered into a critical phase as the PPP has geared up its contacts with the other parties of the coalition government, reflecting that Dar is unacceptable for many of the partners.
Meanwhile, PPP’s several leaders contacted media houses on Monday and conveyed that no consensus has been reached on the nominee of PML-N Ishaq Dar as caretaker PM. Separately, PPP’s minister Sherry Rehman and Faisal Kundi also addressed a presser to claim that there was no consensus on Dar’s nomination as caretaker PM.
Minister for Climate Change and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman refuted any consultations or agreement for the caretaker prime minister’s position, terming all such news as “fake”.
The statement came a day after reports emerged, suggesting that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s name had been finalised for the interim PM’s position.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi, Sherry said that no decision has been made yet regarding the position
“There is a constitutional procedure in place for the appointment of interim PM. Stability in the country can only be achieved through timely elections and a non-partisan interim government,” she added.
On the occasion, Kundi dismissed the rumours of reaching an agreement with PML-N over the position of interim PM. He asserted that no official or unofficial meetings in Dubai, or elsewhere, have confirmed the veracity of such news.
He categorically rejected that the name of Ishaq Dar was proposed to the PPP till now. “All parties including the PML-N have the right to shortlist candidates but if [Ishaq Dar’s] name is given to PPP, we will discuss it,” he added.
He clarified that no meetings were held in Dubai, they want the assembly to complete its term and elections to be held in 60 days. He further said that his party had reservations over the census as well.
Later in the day, Minister for Defence and central leader of PML-N Khawaja Asif also ruled out the possibility of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar becoming a caretaker prime minister (PM).
Talking to a private news channel on Monday, Khawaja Asif confirmed there were differences over Dar’s nomination.
“I personally wish to see Dar as the caretaker premier. It come to my knowledge that objections are being raised for considering Dar,” he said. However, the minister did not elabourate whether the objections were raised by the coalition members or the stakeholders.
The defence minister admitted that objections will definitely be raised if the caretaker premier is appointed from the ruling party.
Khawaja Asif said a caretaker PM plays the role of an umpire in a caretaker set-up. He added that Ishaq Dar’s name was not considered for the caretaker PM’s slot on any platform.
He added that the federal government did not even give any hint at appointing Dar as the caretaker premier. “The report was actually leaked by a reputed journalist in the media.”
To a question, Asif said that Nawaz Sharif will definitely return to the country soon. However, he did not mention a specific time for Sharif’s return.
PML-N confirms Dar’s candidacy
On Sunday, top leaders of PML-N confirmed about amending the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) law in order to empower the caretaker set-up and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar candidature for the next caretaker prime minister.
According to sources, the PML-N leaders have been pushing Dar’s name for the caretaker premier position. In response to questions about his candidacy, Dar stressed that he did not aspire or lobby for any office and that he had already fulfilled his responsibilities as the finance minister during his political career.
Dar emphasised the importance of not allowing the nation’s three-month transition period to be spent solely on day-to-day affairs, noting that such an approach had led to past inefficiencies. He argued that significant decisions, especially concerning the country’s economy, needed to be made during the caretaker government’s term to ensure a smooth and productive transition.
To facilitate the appointment of the caretaker Prime Minister, the PML-N’s plan involves amending Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017, which deals with the authority granted to the interim government. This amendment would empower the caretaker set-up to address urgent economic matters and implement policies necessary to revive the economy.
Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb clarified that the decision-making process would begin with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who will consult with coalition partners to finalize the caretaker Prime Minister’s name. Following this, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will engage with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, adhering to constitutional procedures.
