Islamabad
\nRejecting reports claiming Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) \u2014 the two major coalition partners in the Centre \u2014 have reached a consensus on the name of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Monday revealed that no interim premier\u2019s name was shared with her party.
\nAddressing a joint press conference flanked by PPP spokesperson and Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Faisal Kareem Kundi, Rehman termed the media reports as \u201cfake news\u201d.
\n\u201cThe PPP believes in free, fair and on-time elections,\u201d she said, adding that it will take some more time to finalise a name for the caretaker PM.
\nResponding to a question, the minister said that PPP prefers the formulation of an impartial caretaker set-up.
\n\u201cNeither any name was shared with the PPP nor we agreed on nay name [for caretaker PM],\u201d she added.
\nMeanwhile, PPP spokesperson Kundi said: \u201cWe would have presented our names if any name [for caretaker PM] had been shared with the PPP.\u201d
\nThe PPP had cleared its stance time and again on the assembly\u2019s constitutional term and elections in 60 days.<\/p>\n
PPP \u2018willing\u2019 to consider Dar as interim pm
\nAs per the media reports, the PPP has not ruled out the possibility of accepting Ishaq Dar, the incumbent finance minister and a senior PML-N leader, as the caretaker prime minister.
\nBoth major coalition partners have agreed that a politician should be appointed as the head of the interim set-up, with PPP\u2019s Qamar Zaman Kaira saying that no politician can be appointed as a judge and vice versa.
\nThe PML-N, according to sources, has finalised the name of Dar as the caretaker PM. They told Geo News that the government committee formed on the matter is taking all other political parties in confidence on the matter.
\nEarlier, in a conversation with Geo News, Kundi said the PML-N is yet to apprise his party that Dar\u2019s name is under consideration.
\n\u201cIn the future, if Ishaq Dar\u2019s name is proposed, we can discuss it. The party\u2019s senior leadership will decide over the name of the caretaker prime minister,\u201d he added.
\nThe PPP leader also said just like the PML-N, every party is holding consultations within, and his party\u2019s consultations are not over yet. \u201cWe have not finalised anyone\u2019s name yet.\u201d
\nKundi said a formal announcement would be made once the name is finalised.
\nOn the other hand, when asked during an interview about his possible appointment, Dar did not deny it. \u201cI have always fulfilled my duties whenever I am appointed to any position.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, the government is also about to amend Section 230 of the Election Act 2017 \u2014 which relates to the functions of a caretaker government \u2014 before its term comes to an end.
\nWell-placed parliamentary sources told The News the two houses of the Parliament would separately adopt the Electoral Reforms Bill introducing major changes to the Election Act-2017 this week.
\nThe proposed reforms would enhance the powers of the caretaker government to transact important matters of national significance, much beyond day-to-day affairs.
\nTop PPP and PML-N leaders are also in Dubai once again to discuss elections and the caretaker set-up. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also set to join them.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the process of caretaker PM\u2019s appointment?
\nThe process of officially appointing a caretaker prime minister will be triggered after the government dissolves the National Assembly \u2014 and sources say they plan on doing it on August 8.
\nArticle 224 of the Constitution explains the process of appointment of a caretaker government at the Centre and provinces.
\nUntil the formation of a caretaker government, PM Shehbaz will continue his duties as the prime minister, albeit for a few days.
\nIt is only incumbent National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, out of all elected representatives, who will hold his position until the newly-elected lawmakers take an oath and elect his replacement.
\nFor the formation of a caretaker government, PM Shehbaz will write to the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, within 48 hours of the dissolution of the assembly, seeking three names for the caretaker prime minister and will suggest three names himself.
\nIn case, an impasse between the two leaders lasts for three days on the nominee, the NA speaker will form a committee comprising six members of the outgoing assembly with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition.
\nTo the committee, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition will forward two nominees each.
\nThe committee then will have three days to evolve consensus on one name. If that fails as well, then the names of the nominees will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan for a final decision within two days.
\nThe selected nominee will perform the duties as the interim PM until the formation of a new government in the Centre. The caretaker PM also has the power to induct cabinet members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad Rejecting reports claiming Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) \u2014 the two major coalition partners in the Centre \u2014 have reached a consensus on the name of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Monday revealed that no interim premier\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-345141","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n