Riaz opposes Dar for interim PM slot

Opposition Leader in NA says addressing people’s woes more important than holding polls

KARACHI:

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Raja Riaz on Tuesday rejected the proposal to nominate Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as the caretaker premier.

There were rumours that Dar’s name would be floated for the post given that the requirement for the interim prime minister was of an economist but now these speculations had been put to rest.

Speaking to the website of an English daily, Riaz also questioned the need for holding the general elections in the country immediately.

He added that there was no reason for conducting the polls within their scheduled timeframe even if the tenure of the current legislature expired or it was dissolved early.

The opposition leader, who is a PTI MNA despite leaving the party, maintained that there was no need for conducting the polls even for a decade, adding that addressing the people’s woes was more significant.

Speaking on the issue of Dar, Riaz claimed that nobody would accept the results of the polls if they were held under a set-up headed by the incumbent finance minister.

He continued that elections would not be held for a couple of years if Dar became the interim premier.

Riaz, who has already said he would contest the next polls on a PML-N ticket, demanded that the ruling party should disclose the names of its candidates for the caretaker premier’s slot, adding that there was no need to consult with him on the matter.

The opposition leader further said he would meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 1 to present his three names for the post of the interim premier.

He added that he would meet with other opposition leaders on Wednesday (today) or Thursday to consult with them on the issue of the caretaker prime minister.

Riaz felt that the interim premier should be a financial expert given the state of the country’s dwindling economy.

The uncertainty over who will take the reins of the caretaker set-up lingered after the PPP decided to propose a candidate for the coveted post by forming its own consultative committee -- a day after reports indicated a purported proposal for Ishaq Dar from PML-N had stirred misgivings.

Meanwhile, emphatic refutations from leaders of such media reports became audible -- seeking to allay concerns -- almost in tandem with indications that the ruling PML-N may have indeed settled on the name of Ishaq Dar as a contender.

The day saw political parties whirring into action while cobbling together their own panels to discuss the matter in liaison with the ruling PML-N – at a rapid clip.

As for its part, the PPP’s three-member panel will comprise former premier Yusuf Raza Gillani, party’s stalwart Syed Khurshid Shah and Naveed Qamar.

It will be entrusted with the task to hammer out details regarding the interim premier as well as cabinet through consultations with all political parties, including PML-N and JUI-F, sources said.

Addressing a news conference on Monday, Minister for Climate Change and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman had refuted any consultations or agreement for the caretaker prime minister’s position, terming all such news “fake”.

She had asserted that no decision has been made yet regarding the position. “There is a constitutional procedure in place for the appointment of interim PM. Stability in the country can only be achieved through timely elections and a non-partisan interim government,” she added.

“The PPP’s party position is the same as before — which is our democratic position entrenched in the Constitution — that it’s better if the caretaker government is non-partisan.”

She explained appointing a caretaker premier required a consultative process and involved discussions among multiple parties, as well as the opposition leader.

Rehman said her party had formed a three-member committee for consultation on the caretaker setup. “They will inform the party leadership of the [proposed] names, but no decision has been taken regarding this yet … It should be clear now that we have not settled on a name.”

She went on to reaffirm her party’s stance that elections should be held on time, within the constitutional term, be it 60 days or 90 days.