Parliamentary body to decide caretaker PM if no consensus: Khursheed Shah

Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said on Tuesday that if he and Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are unable to mutually decide on a caretaker premier’s name, then the matter would be taken to a parliamentary committee.

Speaking to the media after holding another meeting today with the PM, Shah said that there was still a lack of consensus between him and PM Abbasi. He added that the duo will be holding another meeting tomorrow or the day after to discuss the caretaker's name.

Shah further said that the decision may be taken to a parliamentary committee if a name was not mutually decided. He said the committee would be given the suggested candidate names and it will then decide on the name for the caretaker, local media reported.

The duo has held multiple meetings to decide the name of a caretaker PM, but has failed to form consensus in all the meetings. The caretaker PM will come into power temporarily after the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s tenure expires on May 3. The caretaker will be overseeing to the general elections, which will be held in the last week of July.

According to local media reports, sources have revealed names of some of the candidates that have been considered for the temporary position. Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, former State Bank of Pakistan governor Shamshad Akhtar and former diplomat Jalil Abbas Jilani are the top three names that have been circulating to be named the caretaker PM.