Members of the parliamentary committee address the media after the meeting in Islamabad. PHOTO: ONLINE
The first meeting of the parliamentary committee tasked to pick out a consensus caretaker prime minister remained inconclusive – but its members hope they would reach an agreement over the remaining two days.
“We have a firm belief that the committee will decide the matter, at least with majority if not (by evolving) consensus,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Mehtab Abbasi at a news conference after the committee meeting on Wednesday.
Pakistan Peoples Party Senators Farooq H Naek and Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah agreed with Abbasi. “We will put in all our efforts to decide the issue at this forum,” said Naek.
In its first meeting, the committee decided the terms of reference for its subsequent meetings. Under the terms, the government and opposition will chair meetings on rotation. Awami National Party’s Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, who represents the government on the panel, chaired the first meeting.
“Since, this was our first meeting, we had to formulate certain rules that we will follow while finalising a name for the interim prime minister,” Khursheed Shah told reporters. “We have started a discussion over the merits and demerits of the nominees,” he added.
According to Shah, under the terms of reference, a decision on any candidate will be made based on six out of the total eight votes. He added that a meeting quorum of five members was also agreed upon.
The committee also discussed two nominees out of four in the first meeting, namely Justice (Retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Rasul Bakhsh Palijo, said Shah, adding that the names of Dr Ishrat Hussain and Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid will be discussed in today’s (Thursday’s) meeting.
Justice (Retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Dr Ishrat Hussain have been nominated by the PPP, while Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid and Rasool Baksh Palijo were nominated by the PML-N.
During his news conference, Abbasi clarified the procedure which the panel will use to select the interim premier.
“The caretaker prime minister must have five qualities … He should be impartial, honest, experienced in running government affairs, have no political affiliation and the public should have a positive perception of him,” Abbasi said.
He deflected a question as to why the leader of opposition opted against nominating members from any other parties in the opposition apart from the PML-N for the parliamentary panel, saying there was no constitutional bar in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.
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The inability to arrive at a consensus candidate to take over the caretaker government is no doubt a setback but is a part of the entire exercise. It is more of a teething problem. This exercise is certainly not simple as in the history of Pakistan transition through the ballot after completion of a complete tenure of the National Assembly has been a pipe dream. But, there is a remarkable change that is apparent in The Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a nation which shows that the Islamic Republic is moving towards democracy. The movement will need time and the pace too needs to be steady as any false move can cause damage to the growing plant of democracy. The fact that Pakistan will be going to the polls on May 11 is indeed a development most encouraging which shows the ray of hope that this Indian neighbour is moving towards a system that had not been able to function very successfully in the past. The transition which is to be through the ballot and ballot alone after the present government having completed their complete tenure is an achievement in itself. To mature as a democratic nation Pakistan will require time and the people of Pakistan have to finally decide as to how they need to go about it. The role of army in Pakistan has no doubt been quite influential but this institution too, has been showing a change and a change for the better for they too would want their nation to progress on each and every front. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan does have the potential to become a Liberal, Islamic state wherein democracy of a distinct kind can fructify provided those elements who have opposed the system are laid to rest and their lobbies get sequestrated in the Islamic Republic. The people of that country are fighting the problem of religious fundamentalism and terrorism which a democratic system alone can cure although in a slow but steady manner. The elections scheduled on the 11th of May are a test for the political system as well as the electorate of Pakistan. Time and the final outcome of the election will only tell and prove the level of political maturity of Pakistan which is essential for the development of democracy in the country.
@Blithe: what else can you expect from someone sitting idle in a Chennai call center?
@Sheikh: Why are you getting so antsy?
He deflected a question as to why the leader of opposition opted against nominating members from any other parties in the opposition apart from the PML-N for the parliamentary panel, saying there was no constitutional bar in this regard. But PML(N) demands that the President must give up either presidency or party co-chairmanship even though there is no constitutional bar on holding both posts. Will SC take suo mutu notice of this parliamentary panel formation?
@Sheikh:
Why are you getting so antsy. Relax , my friend.
PML N shouldn't cave in . They need to define the scenario as they are the legitimate opposition.
There is no need for you to panicking.
Let it go up ECP . What's the big deal?!!
No wonder Pakistan is in such a mess. Eight people can't agree on one name out of a few short-listed names.
Pick Dr. Ishrat Hussain already.