General (Retired) Raheel Sharif next caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan?
President asks PM, opposition leader to finalize name of Care-taker Prime Minister until August 12
Web Desk
The speculations taking rounds on social media and in social circles of elite class of Pakistan about forthcoming caretaker prime minister of Pakistan but there has been no consensus yet between Prime Minister, Mian Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing opposition leader Raja Riaz on the matter.
As per constitutional requirement both these persons are required to develop consensus on any name who would be appointed as the caretaker prime minister.
If both of them fail to develop harmony in this connection, then the issue would further be put before a parliamentary committee to decide on the matter.
In case this matter isn’t resolved on this forum then the Election Commission (ECP) of Pakistan would be bound to select any name as the caretaker premier from the list which was suggested by the PM and the opposition leader.
So far two names on behalf of PPP has been suggested as the caretaker premier including former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jilani and former ambassador of Pakistan to US, Jalil Abbas Jilani.
The proposed names of the PM and the opposition leader haven’t been revealed yet.
Meanwhile there are speculations that former Chief of Army Staff, General (Retired) Raheel Sharif is a top choice for the slot of caretaker premier of Pakistan.
It is expected that the name of General (Retired) Raheel Sharif would be proposed as the caretaker PM by the opposition leader, Raja Riaz and this name would finally be finalized and approved.
Former MNA Saira Bano of GDA in a TV show had predicted that a person would be appointed as the caretaker premier who has been associated with the military establishment. Although she didn’t name this personality, but it seems that perhaps it would be General (Retired) Raheel Sharif who can be appointed as the caretaker PM of Pakistan.
However, these are all speculations as no concrete substantial evidence is proving it. The matter of caretaker PM would be resolved in a few days as is required under the constitution. Till then speculations would continue to take place on social media and in social circles.
Meanwhile according to APP, the President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday asked the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the outgoing National Assembly to propose a suitable person for appointment of Care-taker Prime Minister not later than August 12, 2023.
It stated that in a letter to the prime minister and the opposition leader, President Alvi said under Article 224A of Constitution, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly were required to propose name of a person for appointment of care-taker prime minister within three days of dissolution of National Assembly.
“Under proviso to Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution, the president appoints care-taker prime minister in consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly”, he added.
It further stated that the prime minister advised him on August 9 for dissolution of National Assembly under Article 58 (1) of the Constitution which he approved and dissolved the assembly on same day.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of Constitution of Pakistan, Prime Minister and leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for appointment of care-taker prime minister not later than August 12, 2023,” the president added.
