ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the outgoing leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, convened on Thursday to reach a unanimous decision regarding the nominee for the head of the caretaker administration ahead of the upcoming national elections scheduled for November this year.
This development followed President Arif Alvi’s dissolution of the lower house of parliament on Sharif’s advice late Wednesday night. The prime minister initiated a consultation process with the departing opposition leader to fulfill the constitutional requirement for deliberation on the matter.
The two leaders now have a three-day window to arrive at a consensus on a candidate for the caretaker prime minister following the assembly’s dissolution.
“The first round of consultation between the prime minister and the opposition leader took place in a pleasant environment,” a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after the meeting informed. “It is decided that tomorrow, August 11, the consultation will be made again on this important national issue.”
Sharif assumed power in April last year after then prime minister Imran Khan was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence.
The outgoing PM’s tenure technically expired on August 12, but he dissolved the assembly three days early to give the caretaker government 90 days to organize general elections, compared to 60 days if he were to step down on time, as per the constitution.
According to the country’s constitutional framework, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition of the outgoing National Assembly appoint a caretaker prime minister following consultations.
Article 224-A of the constitution stipulates that if the two fail to agree on a candidate within three days of the National Assembly’s dissolution, “they shall forward two nominees each to a committee to be immediately constituted by the Speaker of the National Assembly.”
The parliamentary committee will comprise eight members with equal representation from the treasury and opposition benches. It would be mandated to appoint a caretaker prime minister within three days of the matter being referred to it.
As per the constitution, if the committee fails to finalize the name during the given period, the nominees will be referred to Pakistan’s election commission that will make a final decision within two days. Until then, the incumbent prime minister will continue to hold the office.
Speaking to Arab News, Zarrar Khuhro, a senior journalist and TV talk show host, said it was unprecedented to experience such a delay in the appointment of a caretaker prime minister, adding that the situation was beginning to create doubts and rumors about some kind of “behind-the-scenes bargaining.”
“None of this is on the record, but the deadlock apparently seems to be the result of a struggle between the powers that be in Pakistan and the outgoing ruling alliance to appoint a man of their choosing at the coveted position,” he told Arab News, alluding to the country’s powerful military, which wields immense influence in the country’s political matters.
“If Raja Riaz is taking any stance on the appointment, then almost certainly forces behind Raja Riaz have been causing delay in the process,” he added.
Zebunnisa Burki, a political analyst, said that many names had been floated for the caretaker prime minister through the media, though Sharif and Riaz were still negotiating to select a consensus candidate.
“I feel the negotiations are still underway between the outgoing ruling alliance and the opposition leader as to how long this interim setup will last and when the national elections will be held,” she told Arab News.
“The prime minister and Raja Riaz may ultimately want the Election Commission of Pakistan to pick a candidate for the slot to maintain their neutrality in the whole process,” she added.
