- PPP says that it will take some more time to decide the name for the caretaker PM.
- “The PPP believes in free, fair and timely elections,” says Sherry Rahman.
- “If any name had been shared with the PPP, we would have offered ours.”
Rejecting reports that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the two major coalition partners at the Centre, have reached a consensus on the name of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as Caretaker Prime Minister, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Monday revealed that the name of any interim prime minister was not shared with her party.
Addressing a joint press conference in the presence of PPP spokesperson and Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Faisal Karim Kundi, Rehman termed the media reports as “fake news”.
“The PPP believes in free, fair and timely elections,” he said, adding that it would take some more time to finalize the name for the caretaker prime minister.
Responding to a question, the Minister said that PPP gives priority to building an impartial caretaker system.
“Neither any name was shared with PPP nor we agreed on any name [for caretaker PM],” He added.
Meanwhile, PPP spokesperson Kundi said, “If there was a name, we would have presented ours.” [for caretaker PM] Was shared with PPP.”
The PPP had repeatedly clarified its stand on the constitutional term of the assembly and elections in 60 days.
PPP ‘willing’ to accept Dar as interim PM
According to media reports, the PPP has not ruled out the possibility of accepting Ishaq Dar, the current finance minister and senior PML-N leader, as the caretaker prime minister.
Both major coalition partners have agreed that a politician should be appointed as the head of the interim arrangement, with PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira saying that no politician can be appointed as a judge and vice versa.
According to sources, the PML-N has finalized Dar’s name as caretaker PM. They told geo news That the government committee formed on this matter is taking all the political parties into confidence on this matter.
earlier in the conversation geo newsKundi said the PML-N has not yet informed his party that Dar’s name is under consideration.
“If Ishaq Dar’s name is proposed in future, we can discuss it. The senior leadership of the party will decide on the name of caretaker prime minister,” he said.
The PPP leader also said that like the PML-N, every party is deliberating within itself and his party’s deliberations are not over yet. “We haven’t finalized anyone yet.”
Kundi said a formal announcement would be made after the name is finalised.
At the same time, during an interview, when Dar was asked about his possible appointment, he did not deny it. “Whenever I have been appointed to any position, I have always performed my duties.”
Meanwhile, the government is also set to amend Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017 – which deals with the functions of a caretaker government – before its term ends.
Well-known parliamentary sources said this news This week, both the Houses of the Parliament will separately adopt the Electoral Reforms Bill, which will bring major changes in the Election Act-2017.
The proposed reforms will increase the powers of the caretaker government to deal with important matters of national importance, beyond day-to-day matters.
Top leaders of PPP and PML-N are also in Dubai once again to discuss the election and caretaker arrangements. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also set to join them.
What is the procedure for the appointment of caretaker PM?
The process of officially appointing a caretaker prime minister will begin after the government dissolves the National Assembly – and sources say they plan to do it on 8 August.
Article 224 of the Constitution lays down the procedure for the appointment of caretaker government at the center and in the provinces.
Till the formation of a caretaker government, PM Shehbaz will continue his duties as the Prime Minister, albeit for a few days.
Of all the elected representatives, the only one is the outgoing National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, who will remain in office until newly elected legislators are sworn in and elect his replacement.
Within 48 hours after the dissolution of the assembly, PM Shahbaz will write a letter to the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, seeking three names for the caretaker prime minister and suggest three names for the formation of the caretaker government.
If the deadlock between the two leaders over the nominee persists for three days, the NA Speaker will constitute a committee consisting of six members of the outgoing assembly, with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition.
In the committee, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will each put forward two nominees.
The committee will then have three days to agree on a name. If that also fails, the names of the candidates will be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan for a final decision within two days.
The selected nominee will perform the duties as the interim PM till the formation of a new government at the Centre. The caretaker prime minister also has the power to appoint cabinet members.
