Opposition summons key meeting to decide joint candidate for premiership
Khursheed Shah has also invited parliamentary leader of FATA members in the session.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by Supreme Court (SC) in Panama Leaks case, the opposition parties on Monday have summoned key meeting to decide their joint candidate for interim premiership.
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed or someone else, the opposition will give its joint candidate’s name today whereas Sheikh Rasheed has got nomination papers in this regard.
Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah has also invited parliamentary leader of FATA members, Shah Jee Gull Afridi in the session while a telephonic conversation was also held between Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujat and Jamat-e-Islami’s Siraj-ul-Haq.
Awami National Party (ANP) also exchanged their views on joint candidate.
On the other hand, Pakistam Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominated candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and FATA members for their support. He also held meeting with National Peoples Party chairman Murtaza Jatoi.
Shahid Khaqan has submitted his nomination papers.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair appealed Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) for vote of confidence while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Naveed Qamar also sought support from Farooq Sattar.
Pakistan’s parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect an interim prime minister.
The ruling party named Sharif s younger brother Shahbaz as his successor over the weekend, but he must first enter parliament by contesting the seat left vacant by Sharif.
The top court ousted Sharif Friday after an investigation into corruption allegations against him and his family, bringing his historic third term in power to an unceremonious end and briefly plunging the nuclear-armed nation into political instability.
Nawaz Sharif was the 15th prime minister in Pakistan’s 70-year history -- roughly half of which was under military rule -- to be ousted before completing a full term.
"The nomination papers -- shall be delivered to the Secretary, National Assembly by 2.00 pm, on Monday," said a notification by the National Assembly Secretariat and seen by AFP.
--- with input from AFP.
