KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope on Friday the name of the caretaker premier would be finalized tomorrow after President Arif Alvi asked him and the outgoing leader of the opposition in the National Assembly to propose a candidate for the coveted slot by the end of Saturday.
Alvi wrote a letter to Sharif and Raja Riaz a day after the two leaders failed to pick a nominee for the position in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.
The president dissolved 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 fulfil the constitutional requirement to deliberate on the matter. However, they could not reach an agreement on any single candidate.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed confidence that the name of the caretaker Prime Minister will be finalized by Saturday,” the state-owned Radio Pakistan said in a news report. “Talking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday, he said coalition partners will be taken into confidence over the matter before taking a final decision.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (right) shakes hands with the outgoing leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 10, 2023. (Government of Pakistan)
Prior to that, the president recalled in a letter written to PM Sharif and Riaz that he had dissolved the National Assembly on the former’s advice on August 9 as per the constitution, adding the two leaders had until the end of Saturday to agree on a candidate to lead the interim setup at the center.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of Constitution of Pakistan, Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for appointment of caretaker Prime Minister not later than 12th August, 2023 (before 2400 hrs),” Alvi said.
As per the constitution, the president appoints caretaker prime minister in consultation with the outgoing PM and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
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 Article 224-A of the constitution, if the prime minister and the leader of the opposition 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 then be referred to Pakistan’s election commission to make a final decision within two days.
Until then, the incumbent prime minister continues to hold the office.
