The provincial government will invite leaders of the opposition and other political parties to consult on the interim setup very soon. PHOTO: FILE
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has begun ironing out the caretaker setup to ensure official business continues smoothly and general elections are held after the incumbent government ends its tenure in March.
Sources familiar with the matter informed The Express Tribune that the provincial government will invite leaders of the opposition and other political parties to consult on the interim setup very soon. Every measure is being taken to keep the talks confidential, the sources added.
As political stakeholders race to reach the first successive general elections in the country’s history, it is likely the Awami National Party (ANP)-led coalition is eager to send out feelers for caretaker names – with sufficient time to negotiate a consensus.
Those familiar with the matter claim the K-P government has finalised 12 names for the interim cabinet and former provincial minister Mohsin Aziz and justice (retired) Mian Ajmal have been suggested as caretaker chief ministers.
The talks will be held at the Chief Minister House. Opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Pir Sabir Shah will be asked to participate and help formulate a schedule for discussions on the interim government.
Pir Sabir Shah said, “We [PML-N] are yet to be contacted for any talks on the interim setup in the province.”
He said his party has made up its mind, “We are ready to suggest names for the caretaker setup.” Shah, however, refused to disclose any of the names to be put forward by the PML-N.
The Pakistan Peoples Party senior minister Rahimdad Khan, however, said his party has yet to do any homework on names for the caretaker setup in K-P. Khan added no one from the incumbent government has contacted him and the election schedule has not been announced. Akram Durrani was not available for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.
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