The first meeting of the parliamentary committee for appointing caretaker Prime Minister on Wednesday discussed two names ie former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Rasool Bux Palejo, nominated by the former ruling coalition and opposition, respectively.
The committee's second meeting would be held on Thursday (today) at 11am, where members will discuss the names of former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Dr Ishrat Hussain. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had proposed former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Dr Ishrat Hussain while Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had recommended former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Rasool Bux Palejo to the Committee for appointment of caretaker Prime Minister. Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Farooq H Neak, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Parvaiz Rasheed and Sardar Yaqoob Nasir attended Wednesday meeting of the Committee.
Terms of Reference The Committee settled its rules and terms of reference in its first meeting. According to it, the Committee will take decision with the majority of six members out of eight. The quorum of the Committee would be completed with five members.
After Committee meeting, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah told the media that Ghulam Ahmed Bilour has been elected as the chairman of the committee. He said that the chairmanship of the Committee would be on rotational basis. He said that a representative from the opposition would be elected as the chairman of the Committee in its second meeting to be held today (Thursday).
He said that the Committee has discussed two proposed names former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Rasool Bux Palejo for caretaker Prime Minister. Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi said that the Committee discussed some basic characteristics including (i) impartiality (ii) integrity (iii) experience of administrative matters (iv)no affiliation with any political party and (v) has good repute to become eligible for a caretaker Prime Minister.
Abbasi hoped that there would be a consensus but pointed that the caretaker Prime Minister could also be appointed with 6-2 majority members in the committee. Farooq H Naek later told media persons that new nominees could not be considered by the committee as per the Constitution.
He said: "The committee has no authority to change the names sent by the Prime Minister and opposition leader." He said that the same four names would be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan if the committee failed to appoint a caretaker Prime Minister within three days.