Following his final round of meetings with Opposition Leader Raja Riaz in Islamabad today (Saturday), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suggested that the name of the caretaker prime minister will be finalized.
If the premier and Riaz cannot reach an agreement on a name today, the topic will be referred to a parliamentary committee, as Saturday is the third and final day to make a decision following the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9.
In his address to the coalition party leaders at dinner yesterday night, the prime minister mentioned a meeting with the opposition leader to consult on the name for the top government office.
“[I] met Raja Riaz yesterday. I will meet [him] tomorrow,” he said, informing that his second round of the meeting, which was to be held on Friday, was postponed due to his busy schedule and Lahore visit.
According to sources, Raja Riaz has proposed Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani as interim prime minister, with general elections scheduled for early next year.
The prime minister’s remarks come after President Dr Arif Alvi reminded him and the opposition leader to choose a “suitable person” for interim premier by August 12 (Saturday).
The president notified both PM Shehbaz and Riaz in a letter that under Article 224A, they are required to suggest a nominee for interim prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for the appointment of care-taker Prime Minister not later than 12th August,” said President Alvi in the letter.
Commenting on the letter by President Alvi, PM Shehbaz said: “It is a pity that the president of Pakistan has written a letter.”
The prime minister also stated that the president has requested that he transmit the name of the caretaker prime minister by 12 a.m.
PM Shehbaz stated that the process of naming an interim premier will take eight days.
If the prime minister and the NA opposition leader cannot agree on a person within three days, the situation is sent to a parliamentary committee for the selection of a caretaker PM, according to the country’s Constitution.
According to the law, the premier and the opposition leader will each offer their preferences for the coveted position to the parliamentary delegation.
The parliamentary committee will then have three days to finalize the choice of the caretaker prime minister. If the committee is unable to achieve an agreement on a name, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will select a caretaker prime minister from names given by the opposition and the government within two days.
While speaking with journalists in Islamabad on Friday, the premier stated that the coalition partners would be consulted before making a final decision.
