Caretaker premier: Achakzai emerges as PML-N’s favourite
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has become the candidate of choice for the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) to run the caretaker set-up before the next parliamentary election, The Express Tribune has learnt.
This emerged after a meeting between a PkMAP delegation, headed by Achakzai, with Nawaz Sharif and other senior PML-N leaders at Raiwind on Wednesday.
The two sides discussed the makeup of the interim set-up and Nawaz asked Achakzai whether he objected to his name being put forward as a candidate, according to sources privy to the meeting.
Achakzai endorsed PML-N’s nomination list which also included his name, expressing in clear terms that if he was given the chance, then he would try and serve the country to the best of his abilities.
Sharif informed Achakzai that the PML-N would include his name as one of the two candidates in the final list for the slot of caretaker prime minister, which would be forwarded to the incumbent Prime Minister, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
The PML-N had earlier finalised seven names for a caretaker prime minister, including Achakzai, Attaullah Khan Mengal, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Rasool Buksh Palejo, former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir, Justice (retd) Shakirullah Jan and Qazi Hussain Ahmad.
The party has officially forwarded these names to the opposition parties for consultation, following which it will finalise two names for the caretaker premier slot.
After meeting with Achakzai, Nawaz gave the go ahead to the party’s senior leadership to include his name in the final list. They added that the PML-N chief asked Achakzai to begin talks with the heads of political parties to get their approval of his nomination as the caretaker prime minister.
Political alliance in Balochistan
According to the PML-N’s think tank, the party has assessed that if contesting alone, it would succeed in winning only five seats out of a total of 14 seats allocated to Balochistan in the National Assembly. However, if it formed an alliance with other political parties in Balochsitan, it could potentially win 11 seats.
According to the participants of the meeting, the PkMAP usually wins around five seats from the Pashtun-dominated belt in Balochistan in the NA. Although the JUI-F is the principle opponent of the PkMAP in this belt, the PML-N will support PkMAP candidates.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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Mr. Achakzai has not only condemned violence against Hazaras, but he actually held a big public gathering in Quetta for their support. I doubt that this brave Pashtun would accept the offer of the PM slot. He is a man of principles. Rather than becoming PM, Mr. Achakzai will be more happy if the establishment mends it ways.
Mr. Achakzai is a brave, decent and honest leader. I hope all political forces would agree on his name to lead care taker setup.
The only good news about this story is that Achakzai will not be able to be stand as a candidate from Quetta. He is the only prominent Balochistan politician who has not condemned Hazara killings which reflects quite badly on his character
Welldone PMLN, they are doing mature politics...
salam to out pashtoon leader
He is great but how can he be impartial if they are making an electoral alliance....?
Mr. Achakzai is a decent person for the job but He also has backdoor contact with the establishment. He often play the role of a messenger between Establishment and Hamid Karzai. These credentials might make him a bit controversial for the job. Although He publicly opposes the involvement of Spy agencies in politics but what happens behind the doors is not public news....
one of the bravest leader in pakistan...the only man to save pakistan is ACHEKZAI sab
Nice Palace... the Mian Mahal.
Is Achakzai quitting politics for good? He can't afford to stay out of political scene for 8 years.
the army and intel would not be happy to see Asma Jahangir take the post. even if its for a few months. This would present an intriguing case.
GR8 news ..... Acakzai is good person but aal other 6 names in PMLn R also very suitable for caretaker setup .... But i dont see IK agreeing on any of the name which PMLn has given ....
Achakzai is one of the finest politicians I have seen in Pakistan.
Achackzai is a great choice. An incorruptable and unpurchasable. We have a good chance of free and fair elections! I think PTI would agree on him too..
This has got nothing to do with politics, I just love the carpet in the photo. Where can i get one like that?
Mr Mehmood Khan Achk Zai is a Patriot, sincere and honest politician, He must be given chance to serve country and nation as well it is requested to Mr Achakzai to accept the offer.