Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has summoned an important meeting in Raiwind tomorrow (Monday) to finalise two names for the caretaker prime minister's slot, it is learnt. Sources in the party said the meeting to be chaired by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will deliberate upon finalising two names which would be forwarded by leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf through a letter to fill the slot of caretaker premier.
According to PML-N sources, the party is currently considering names of two retired judges, Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid (Retd) and Justice Ajmal Mian (Retd) (both from Sindh), for caretaker prime minister. The 20th Amendment provides for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister by the president in consultation with the prime minister and the leader of opposition of the outgoing National Assembly. In case the outgoing prime minister and the leader of the opposition do not agree on any (single) name within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, they will forward two names each to a parliamentary committee to be immediately constituted by the National Assembly Speaker.
The committee will have to decide on a name within three days. If the committee also fails in developing consensus on one name, these names will be referred to the Election Commission, which will make the final decision in two days. A similar procedure is to be followed in the provinces in case of disagreement between the outgoing chief minister and the leader of the opposition.
The sources said the party has already made consultations with other opposition political parties sans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). But the party has decided to discuss the matter with PTI Chief through Jamaat-i-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan, who will report back to the PML-N.
On February 27, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf wrote a letter to Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, seeking two names to appoint a neutral caretaker setup - a constitutional obligation to have a formal consultation process before installation of an interim setup to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
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