PM Abbasi, Khursheed Shah fail to decide Caretaker PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah again failed to reach consensus over the name of caretaker prime minister in their meeting today.

Khursheed Shah talking to media persons here said that the government and the opposition have failed to agree over a common name for the caretaker prime minister who will lead an interim setup to guide the country to the general elections.

He said another meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi will be held in a day or two to decide the matter. “We are trying to reach a decision within the Parliament,” Shah said.

“In case of disagreement a parliamentary committee, comprises of four members from each side, will decide the matter”.

The five-year term of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government will expire within nine days on May 31st.

Mr. Shah’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) likely to propose the names of former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf and former Pakistan envoy in Washington Jalil Abbas Jilani, for the office of the caretaker prime minister in the meeting between the opposition leader and Prime Minister Abbasi today.

Khursheed Shah, before the crucial meeting with the prime minister, on Monday held consultations with party chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari and the senior leadership of the PPP, party sources said.

According to sources, the government has suggested names of former chief justices of Pakistan Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk, Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and former State Bank governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar.

The names of another former governor of State Bank, Dr. Ishrat Hussain and former Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon are also being given for the caretaker prime minister’s office.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the name of Zaka Ashraf because of his affiliation with People’s Party. According to PPP sources, Ashraf had recently resigned from the CEC of the party.

The incumbent government is expected to wind up its five-year term on May 31, after which the caretaker set up will take over the government to hold the general elections, which are expected to be held in the last week of July.

The election commission has recently forwarded a summary about the date of the general election to the Presidency for the presidential approval, suggesting to hold the polls on July 25, 26 or 27.