Political consultation: Pick caretaker PM from opposition shortlist, says Nawaz

Wants consultation process to begin even before dissolution of assemblies.

LAHORE:

Nawaz Sharif, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said on Tuesday the PPP-led coalition government should initiate talks with the opposition on the caretaker set-up soon.

According to Nawaz, PML-N has almost finalised the names for caretaker prime minister.

Nawaz shared his thoughts during a visit to the residence of Brig (retd) Inamul Haq, who passed away recently, to offer condolences to the family.

Talking to reporters, he suggested that the ruling government should simply pick a name proposed by the PML-N. However, he added, if the government itself presents worthy names, the opposition will have no problem in accepting them. The shortlisted people should be the ones the entire nation can trust, he said.

Furthermore, Nawaz mentioned Article 224 A of the Constitution, which states that the leader of the opposition and the leader of the house in the National Assembly are responsible for appointing the caretaker premier. And yet, he said, all parties should be able to participate in the selection process and a consensus reached.



He added that the Constitution binds the opposition and the government to start consultation about the caretaker set-up within three days of the dissolution of assemblies. However, in his opinion, the government should start talks even before that.

Commenting on democracy, Sharif said the PPP government needs to clear doubts clouding the democratic system by finalizing names. For this purpose, he asked Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday to start his talks with the government.

Six names have been circulated by the opposition:  Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party head Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal, Rasul Buksh Palejo, Justices (retd) Nasir Asalm Zahid and Shakirullah Jan, and rights campaigner Asma Jahangir.

Social graces

When asked about his reluctance to meet President Asif Ali Zardari when he wanted to offer condolences on the death of his younger brother Mian Abbas Sharif, he said that Zardari had condoled with him over the phone after ten days of Abbas’s death.

“At this time, that’s all I can say,” he said.

Qadri

In response to a question about Dr Tahirul Qadri, he said Qadri’s agenda is to sabotage the forthcoming election. The Supreme Court has endorsed his party’s stance on Qadri’s dual nationality.  He said that Qadri’s agenda and his modus operandi are both flawed.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PML-N’s Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq will participate in the Awami National Party’s All Party Conference on terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.