The opposition political parties are making efforts towards forging consensus on fielding a joint candidate to contest election for the office of the prime minister that fell vacant after Nawaz Sharif's disqualification. Talking to journalists after addressing a meeting of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) at National Press Club here, opposition leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah said that contacts are being made with leaders of opposition parties to field a consensus candidate for the office of the prime minister.
According to sources, a meeting of opposition parties is likely to be held today (Sunday) under the chairmanship of the Opposition Leader to discuss and evolve consensus on the name for the candidate for the office of the prime minister. The opposition leader, who usually spends his weekends in his constituency in Sukkur, stayed in Islamabad on Saturday on the instructions of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to get the opposition parties agreed on a consensus candidate.
In this regard, the Opposition Leader made a telephonic contact with Shah Mahmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI), Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-Q) senior leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. According to sources, the PPP is expected to name its own candidate for the slot of prime minister as it has the largest number of members in National Assembly among opposition parties.
However, parliamentary observers emphasised that even a consensus candidate of the opposition is unlikely to be elected as prime minister because Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) alone enjoys the majority in the Lower House of the Parliament.
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