ISLAMABAD: The selection of caretaker prime minister has entered the final stages while today is the last day to finalize the name.Shahbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riyaz will meet today.
It has been three days since the National Assembly began its deliberations, yet a decision regarding the Prime Minister designate has not been reached. In this context, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riyaz will meet again today.
If the meeting between Shahbaz Sharif and Raja does not yield a resolution, the matter of the Prime Minister designate will be referred to the National Assembly’s parliamentary committee.
Prior to this, President of the country, Dr. Arif Alvi, also requested Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the opposition leader to provide the name for the Prime Minister designate today.
In his letter, the President stated that according to Article 224-A of the Constitution, the President, Prime Minister, and leader of the opposition consult to finalize the Prime Minister designate. According to the Constitution, the Prime Minister and opposition leader are required to propose the name of the Prime Minister designate within three days.
Up until now, despite Dr. Arif Alvi’s request for the name of the Prime Minister designate, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had said that the President should have waited. He said, “Mr. President, read the Constitution, there is an 8-day period for the Prime Minister designate’s confirmation. I don’t know why the President was in such a hurry to write the letter.”
The Prime Minister further stated that he would remain the Prime Minister designate until the confirmation of the Prime Minister designate. If an agreement is not reached within three days, the matter will be decided by the parliamentary committee within three weeks, after which it will be referred to the Election Commission.
According to sources, Jalil Abbas Jilani is considered a strong candidate for the Prime Minister designate. Discussions are also underway regarding names like Asad Dar, Hafeez Sheikh, and others.
