Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the name of the caretaker premier will be finalized by tomorrow, August 12. The confirmation came during a conversation with journalists in Islamabad, where PM Shehbaz said that coalition partners will be consulted before making a final decision.
According to the Constitution, there is an eight-day window for the appointment of the caretaker premier. Following the premature dissolution of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz met with Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz to exchange a list of potential candidates for the position, marking the beginning of formal consultations on the matter.
During a subsequent meeting with reporters, Riaz revealed that six names were under consideration, emphasizing that there was no rush to make a decision. The leaders are scheduled to hold a second meeting today for further deliberations.
In the event that the prime minister and the outgoing opposition leader fail to agree on a name, the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee. If the committee is unable to make a decision, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have two days to select the caretaker prime minister from the list of names provided to them.
There is speculation among political circles that PM Shehbaz wants to remain in office until August 14 to attend the flag-hoisting ceremony on Independence Day, after which the caretaker premier will be sworn in. According to Article 94 of the Constitution, PM Shehbaz can serve as the caretaker prime minister until the interim set-up is established—”The president may ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of prime minister.”
The delay in announcing the head of the interim government is believed to be due to the PML-N’s desire to have their own candidate appointed. Sources indicate that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari are playing a significant role in the decision-making process in consultation with a “third party.”
Earlier today, President Arif Alvi sent a letter to PM Shehbaz and Riaz, urging them to propose a name for the caretaker premier’s appointment by August 12. The letter emphasized the constitutional provision that requires the appointment to be made within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
In response to the letter, PM Shehbaz expressed dissatisfaction, questioning why the president was “in a hurry.” Nevertheless, he is expected to comply with the request and propose a name for the interim premier.
Meanwhile, all Senate committee meetings have been postponed until the caretaker government is appointed. A notification from the Senate Secretariat states that the prime minister and federal ministers no longer hold office, and therefore, committee meetings cannot proceed until the caretaker prime minister and cabinet are in place.
As the deliberations continue, a number of names have emerged as possible contenders for the role, including Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Jilal Abbas Jilani, Dr. Hafeez Sheikh, Ishaq Dar, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Tassaduq Jilani, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pir Pagaro, and Makhdoom Mehmood Ahmed.
Additional reporting by Sanaullah Khan