PPP ‘willing’ to consider Ishaq Dar as Caretaker PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (right) and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar address a press conference in Lahore on June 30, 2023.  - AFP
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (right) and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar address a press conference in Lahore on June 30, 2023. – AFP
  • PPP says that the name of Ishaq Dar has not been found yet.
  • “We haven’t named anyone yet,” says Kundi.
  • The announcement will be made after the name is finalised.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – one of the two major coalition partners at the Center – has not ruled out the possibility of accepting current finance minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar as 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 the name of Finance Minister Senator Dar as caretaker Prime Minister. They told geo news That the government committee formed on this matter is taking all the political parties into confidence on this matter.

in conversation with geo newsPPP spokesman Faisal Karim Kundi said the PML-N has not yet informed his party that Dar’s name is under consideration.

Kundi said, “In future, if Ishaq Dar’s name is proposed, we can discuss it. The senior leadership of the party will decide on the name of caretaker prime minister.”

The PPP leader said that like PML-N, every party is having internal discussions and his party’s discussions are not over yet. “We haven’t finalized anyone yet.”

Kundi said a formal announcement would be made after the name is finalised.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said during this geo news It has been said in the ‘Naya Pakistan’ show that if Dar’s name is agreed upon in the board, he can be appointed as the caretaker PM.

“Whatever decision is taken, the cabinet will be taken into confidence,” Iqbal said.

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 Pervaiz Ashraf, who will remain in office until the newly-elected legislators take oath 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.

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