Noted economist Dr Hafiz Pasha is among the top contenders for the prime ministerial slot in the upcoming caretaker setup, set to take oath on June 01, 2018, as the current assemblies complete their five-year terms on May 31. Informed sources told Business Recorder that the powerful military establishment which is quite concerned about the poor state of the economy, wants an economist to be the caretaker prime minister to steer the country out of the prevailing economic crisis.
Well-placed sources within the establishment stated that the military wants a person with a strong economic background to lead the interim setup and for the purpose background discussions are under way. "The economy is going down day by day and the country may face serious consequences if timely measures are not taken. And this is the reason the military wants a caretaker setup consisting of a top economist as the prime minister with a complete comprehension of economic issues," said sources within the military.
But when asked to go on record the sources stated that the formation of a caretaker setup in the center is the job of the outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly as enshrined in the Constitution; and the military has nothing to do with administrative matters and the idea to install an economist as caretaker prime minister is just a proposal. Dr Pasha, who frequently briefs general headquarters (GHQ) on the state of the economy, is one of the top contenders though there are some political aspirants as well as a handful of technocrats.
Sources within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) confided to Business Recorder that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has discussed a few names with opposition leader Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah and the consultation process is underway. They said that the names of veteran politician Syed Fakhar Imam, former chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and former governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Ishrat Husain are also making the rounds.
Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) secretary-general Farhatullah Babar said that no name has yet been finalized, though the opposition leader in National Assembly has received a call from the Prime Minister to start consultation on this matter.
"We are deliberating upon the matter and hopefully the upcoming caretaker prime minister will be neutral and a credible person who would ensure holding of free, fair and transparent general elections," he said. A senior PPP leader who declined to be named said that "it is too early to say that Raza Rabbani would be a candidate in the caretaker setup as party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has already hinted at giving him a ticket to contest the general elections from Karachi on a National Assembly seat".
There is also a strong belief within the political circles that the final decision regarding the caretaker prime minister will be taken by the deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, as an independent caretaker setup may create some legal challenges coupled with lack of adequate protocol/security for the two party leaders.
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