Consensus reached on caretaker premier, say insiders but PML-N denies
Pakistan
The ruling coalition has evolved a consensus on the name but keeping secret to avoid controversy
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – There are speculations galore in the power corridors here on the naming of caretaker prime minister. Insiders claimed that a consensus has been reached amid coalition partners on a name, however, the PML-N stalwarts differ from them.
It may be noted that according an announcement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the summary to dissolve the National Assembly would be sent to the president on August 9 (tomorrow), three days before the completion of constitutional term of the house. If the government and opposition could not reach a consensus by tomorrow, they can deliberate on the issue for three more days after “dissolution” of the assembly. And after that, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
As insiders stick to their “information” that the ruling coalition has evolved a consensus on the name, some say “it is being kept a secret, to avoid controversy,” but other deny.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz is expected to meet Opposition Lea¬der Raja Riaz on Tuesday or Wednesday to “finalise” the name for the slot despite the fact that a name has been “finalised”.
How¬ever, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah belied all “rumours” and all “sources” during a talk show aired on Monday night.
He claimed a politician, who was not associated with any political party, could also become the caretaker PM.
To complicate the situation, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said during a private news channel that the party had not shared any names with the premier so far. However, insiders say that the PPP has shared three names for the coveted post with the prime minister.
PM SHEHBAZ MEETINGS
On Monday, PM Shehbaz held separate meetings with MQM leadership and PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The MQM delegation, led by Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, named Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori for the caretaker prime minister, said a press release issued by the MQM headquarters.
The members of the delegation thanked the prime minister for addressing their party’s reservations on the seventh census and for incorporation of their suggestions.
Earlier, the prime minister met former prime minister and incumbent Senator Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his son Ali Musa Gilani. On the occasion, the prime minister said without the support of allies, the government could “never have done the difficult task of reviving the country’s economy alone”.
SANAULLAH’S CLAIM
Amid reports that former finance minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh could become the caretaker prime minister, minister Sanaullah said his name has not been agreed upon.
As speculations grow, Dr Hafeez is said to be the strongest contender. He is one of the technocrats who is believed to be acceptable to all mainstream political parties and his name is always considered whenever an interim government is installed in the country.
He was first brought into government by Gen Pervez Musharraf as privatisation minister, then served as finance minister in the PPP (2012-13) and the PTI governments (2020-21) too. He also had been a member of the Senate from 2003 to 2006, 2006-2012, and then again from 2012 and 2018.
