ECP likely to make the final call on caretaker prime minister

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Despite the dissolution of National Assembly, the Parliament House remained busy on Wednesday as the Parliamentary Committee strived to make a decision on caretaker prime minister. The practice was observed for the first time since the 18th Amendment.

Representing the government, Syed Khursheed Shah requested Opposition Leader in Senate Ishaq Dar to take charge, while Ishaq Dar insisted Raza Rabbani to become the caretaker premier.

After taking President Zardari and PM Ashraf on board, Syed Khursheed Shah proposed four undisputed and prominent names to become caretaker Prime Minister – I. A. Rehman, Syed Babar Ali, Dr. Abdul Haye Baloch and Aitchison College Principal Shamim Khan. Rehman and Syed Babar Ali rejected the offer while Shamim Khan could not be considered as he holds British citizenship. Dr. Abdul Haye also excused as his nearest relative is contesting elections and he would not tint his win.

On the other hand, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman showed disregard as he felt betrayed by both the prominent parties. Maulana Fazl said that Khursheed Shah only included PPP members in the parliamentary committee while the opposition leader withdrew the name of Justice Shakirullah Jan for the caretaker prime minister without their consultation. Allegedly, Maulana Fazl proposed General (R) Ahsanul Haq for the caretaker premier but the PPP leadership rejected him on the grounds of being a former general.

The PML-N is accused of deliberately dragging the matter and making it land at the Election Commission of Pakistan. Allegedly, the parliamentary committee has also failed to find a common ground between the stakeholders and all four members including Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Pervez Rashid, Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir agreed that the matter would be prolonged by Friday so that the issue would automatically go to the ECP.