Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has indicated that the name of the caretaker prime minister is expected to be finalised following his last round of consultations with Opposition Leader Raja Riaz in Islamabad today (Saturday).
If the premier and Riaz do not agree on a name today, the matter will then be referred to a parliamentary committee, as Saturday is the third and the last day to make a decision in the wake of the National Assembly’s dissolution on August 9.
The prime minister, in his address to the leaders of the coalition parties during dinner last night, spoke about his expected meeting with the opposition leader to consult him for finalising the name for the top government post.
“[I] met Raja Riaz yesterday. I will meet [him] tomorrow,” he said, informing that his second round of the meeting, which was to be held on Friday, was postponed due to his busy schedule and Lahore visit.
According to reports, Raja Riaz has suggested the name of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani as the interim prime minister with general elections expected to take place early next year.
The prime minister’s comment comes after President Dr Arif Alvi wrote a letter to him, reminding him and the opposition leader to suggest a “suitable person” for the interim premier by August 12 (Saturday).
In a letter to both PM Shehbaz and Riaz, the president informed them that under Article 224A they are supposed to propose a name for interim prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for the appointment of care-taker Prime Minister not later than 12th August,” said President Alvi in the letter.
Commenting on the letter by President Alvi, PM Shehbaz said: “It is a pity that the president of Pakistan has written a letter.”
The premier added that the president has asked him to send the name of the caretaker prime minister by 12am.
