Differences Crop Up Between Pakistan's Ruling Allies Over Name of Interim PM
© AP Photo / Rahmat Gul
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The next National Assembly polls in Pakistan are due by 10 November 2023, with the term of the current government expiring on 12 August.
Major differences have surfaced between Pakistan's governing alliance partners as the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML-N, the main constituent, proposed the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as interim prime minister, local media reported on Monday.
Generally, an interim prime minister takes over a caretaker government in Pakistan after the tenure of the democratically-elected government comes to an end. The arrangement lasts until the next government is elected through general polls in the country.
However, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the other big partner in the alliance, has opposed the proposal of Dar's appointment as interim prime minister.
According to reports, the PPP leadership, comprising former President Asif Ali Zardari and incumbent Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has communicated to the PML-N that Dar was close to the "Sharif family", and hence, he should not be elevated to the position, especially keeping in mind that the political allies have to contest a national election soon.
Generally, an interim prime minister takes over a caretaker government in Pakistan after the tenure of the democratically-elected government comes to an end. The arrangement lasts until the next government is elected through general polls in the country.
However, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the other big partner in the alliance, has opposed the proposal of Dar's appointment as interim prime minister.
According to reports, the PPP leadership, comprising former President Asif Ali Zardari and incumbent Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has communicated to the PML-N that Dar was close to the "Sharif family", and hence, he should not be elevated to the position, especially keeping in mind that the political allies have to contest a national election soon.
Against this background, the PPP has sought for a "neutral" politician to be made the interim PM of the nation.
Meanwhile, senior PPP politician Sherry Rehman, the minister of climate change in the present Shehbaz Sharif government, has denied media reports that the PPP and PML-N were holding discussions on the name of the caretaker prime minister.
"No name for caretaker premier has been conveyed to us so far", Rehman told reporters in Islamabad.
Another PPP member, Qamar Zaman Kaira, an advisor to Shehbaz Sharif, also shared his views, stating that a political consensus on the matter was the need of the hour.
On the other hand, Dar termed reports of his ascension to the post of caretaker prime minister as "premature".
Meanwhile, senior PPP politician Sherry Rehman, the minister of climate change in the present Shehbaz Sharif government, has denied media reports that the PPP and PML-N were holding discussions on the name of the caretaker prime minister.
"No name for caretaker premier has been conveyed to us so far", Rehman told reporters in Islamabad.
Another PPP member, Qamar Zaman Kaira, an advisor to Shehbaz Sharif, also shared his views, stating that a political consensus on the matter was the need of the hour.
On the other hand, Dar termed reports of his ascension to the post of caretaker prime minister as "premature".
Dar added that he was not running for the post and that whosoever is picked to lead the country as interim prime minister would have his backing.
Notably, the buzz about Dar's possible appointment to the post of interim PM comes days after Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of a five-member committee that would hold talks with alliance partners over all the issues regarding the interim government and the forthcoming national polls.
Notably, the buzz about Dar's possible appointment to the post of interim PM comes days after Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of a five-member committee that would hold talks with alliance partners over all the issues regarding the interim government and the forthcoming national polls.
