KARACHI: All eyes are fixed on the forthcoming meeting between PrimeMinister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah,for which people are waiting anxiously of the name that would be announcedof the next caretaker prime minister.
Pakistan Muslim League (N) sources confirm together with the PakistanPeoples Party (PPP), that they have agreed to all important pointsregarding the next caretaker set up and now only the announcement isawaited which may come out anytime before the expiry of the tenure for thepresent government.
The sources said that, “The two parties have considered many names for thecaretaker prime minister including the former CJP Tasadduq Hussain Jilani,former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Hussain, formerchairman Senate Muhammad Mian Soomro, former speaker National AssemblyIlahi Bukhsh Soomro, former secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq AhmedKhan, former Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid,former Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Dr Maleeha Lodhi.”
Caretaker set-up: Shah will approach opposition over PM nominees’ names
“The important among them are the former CJP Tasadduq Hussain Jilani,former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Hussain, formerchairman Senate Muhammad Mian Soomro, former speaker National AssemblyIlahi Bukhsh Soomro, and former secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq AhmedKhan,” he said.
According to PML-N sources, “The strongest candidates are Dr Maleeha Lodhiand Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani and one of these can be the nextcaretaker prime minister.”
“Anyone out of these names may also be selected as the caretaker primeminister. The two parties will try to solve the issue among themselves andwill want to avoid the matter being referred to a parliamentary committeeor the election commission.” the sources said.
On the other hand, PPP sources indicate, “If the PML-N tried to propose anycontroversial name, PPP will oppose it and let the issue pass into nextstages.”
According to sources, “The caretaker prime minister will continue with thesame policy on national security and foreign affairs keeping the opinion ofthe military leadership in balance.”
The caretaker government can also decide its own policy on economic mattersand are obliged to hold general elections on time in cooperation with theelection commission. It will also try not to accept any pressure on theaccountability process and let the NAB continue its work independently.