PM has no right to reject nominees for caretaker premier: Khursheed Shah

Expressing his disappointment with the government, Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah has said that Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has no right to reject nominees for caretaker premier.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Shah hinted that the matter may be taken up to the Parliament after all because the government was backtracking from its original stance on the caretaker PM. “The names suggested will be sent to the parliamentary committee, they cannot be rejected," he said.

With nearly a week left for the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz's tenure to expire, the PM and Shah are still not able to form consensus regarding the name of the caretaker PM. Even after holding several meetings the duo have still not decided on the caretaker PM.

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

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.

Meanwhile, the general elections are expected to be held in the last week of July. In a summary forwarded to President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has recommended three dates for holding general elections 2018.

The ECP has recommended dates between July 25 and July 27 to the president to choose and fix a date between these for the upcoming general elections.