Islamabad: On Friday, President Dr. Arif Alvi asked Shehbaz Sharif and Raja Riaz to propose a “suitable person” for interim premier by August 12 (Saturday).
The president wrote PM and Riaz that under Article 224A, they must propose an interim prime minister within three days.
“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,” President Alvi wrote.
Riaz and PM Shehhbaz started appointment negotiations a day early. The PM Office and Riaz said the second round of appointment talks would be today.
“We’ll consult again tomorrow (Friday). After his Thursday consultation, the NA opposition leader told the media that no name would be disclosed until it was finalised. Riaz confirmed that he had provided his candidates’ names with the premier, anticipating things would clear up today.
After President Alvi approved PM Shehbaz’s account of the 15th NA’s dissolution last night, the premier and opposition leader were to meet.
“The president dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of the prime minister under Article 58-1 of the Constitution”. The President’s Office said late Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter.
Article 224-A of the Constitution will select a caretaker prime minister to oversee an election.
The PPP nominated former diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani and former chief judge Tassaduq Hussain Jilani. While Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) nominated Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori.
The Pakistan Mulsim League-Nawaz (PML-N) hasn’t announced this.
Ishaq Dar, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Mohammad Mian Soomro are also candidates.
What if PM, opposition leader disagree?
If the prime minister and NA opposition leader cannot agree on a nominee within three days, the parliamentary committee will pick a temporary PM.
Moreover, The premier and opposition leader must submit their nominations to the legislative delegation.
While, If the parliamentary committee fails to agree on a caretaker prime minister within three days, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will choose one from the opposition and government’s suggestions within two days.
The outgoing government has warned that elections may be delayed beyond the legal 90 days after parliament’s dissolution.
ECP must redelimit after the CCI accepted revised census findings, which will take three or four months.
