ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and opposition leader Khurshid Shah on Tuesday failed to reach a consensus on naming a caretaker prime minister.

Another meeting is scheduled in the coming days, local media reported Shah as saying. The government reportedly suggested the names of former chief justices Nasirul Mulk and Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, as well as former State Bank Gov. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar.

Despite the government and opposition being tight-lipped about the selection, social media has been rife with speculation. 

The five names doing the rounds are Akhtar, Jillani, former Ambassador to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon, permanent representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, and former State Bank Gov. Dr. Ishrat Hussain. Local media report that Lodhi and Akhtar are favorites for the post.

The current government’s term expires on May 31, after which a caretaker administration will be put in place.

But if Abbasi and Shah fail to reach a consensus on an interim prime minister, they will have to make public three names each. 

The six nominees will be referred to a parliamentary committee that will be formed by the National Assembly speaker.

If the committee fails to come to a decision, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which will have the prerogative to choose any one of the six nominees.