ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah disclosed on Sunday that Hafeez Shaikh, the former finance minister during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, is among the candidates shortlisted for the position of caretaker prime minister of the country, as consultations regarding the interim setup intensify ahead of the National Assembly’s dissolution.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif made a public announcement that the National Assembly of the country would be dissolved on August 9, only three days before the conclusion of the current lower house of parliament’s tenure.
The incumbent assembly’s mandate is set to conclude on August 12. Should the assembly complete its full term, elections are to be held within 60 days. However, in cases where the assembly is dissolved before its term is completed, the Constitution stipulates that elections must be conducted within 90 days.
Addressing the media, Minister Sanaullah revealed that the name of a retired Supreme Court judge is also included on the list of potential candidates for the role of interim prime minister. “The decision regarding the interim prime minister will be reached by Tuesday or Wednesday (August 8 or 9),” he announced.
In response to queries, Minister Sanaullah confirmed that the names of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are not part of the shortlisted candidates.
Insiders familiar with the matter further revealed that the name of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former Punjab governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood is also featured among the list of contenders.
Top Contenders for Caretaker Prime Minister’s Slot
Additionally, local media reports suggested that Mehmood, Abbasi, and Shaikh are being considered for the interim premier role. Aslam Bhutani and Fawad Hasan Fawad have also been identified as contenders in the race for the caretaker prime minister position. Sources indicate that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif will finalize three names, with the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, offering input. Ultimately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will select from these names, with Riaz’s concurrence.
Hafeez Shaikh was appointed as an adviser on finance by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2019, following the resignation of former Finance Minister Asad Umar. Shaikh subsequently assumed the finance minister portfolio in December 2019, at a time marked by economic challenges, including significant currency depreciation and inflation.
Possessing over three decades of international experience as a Pakistani political economist, Shaikh had previously served as the finance minister from 2010 to 2013. In 2012, he became an active member of the PPP and successfully contested in the 2012 Senate elections. Following his government tenure, Shaikh held a prominent position in an international investment company based in New York, overseeing a $1.38 billion fund for Asian investments.
In March 2021, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan replaced him as the finance minister, assigning Hammad Azhar the additional responsibility of the finance ministry.
Addressing the potential delay of polls due to the recently approved census results, Sanaullah highlighted the consensus among political parties and provinces that the upcoming general elections should be conducted based on the new census. He acknowledged that the elections, initially scheduled for November, might experience a delay of up to 120 days, with a possible extension of an additional month or two, potentially leading to a February-March timeframe for polling.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari has been actively observing political developments from his Islamabad residence. PPP representative Faisal Karim Kundi indicated that the party has submitted three potential candidates for the caretaker prime minister role to the prime minister.
Despite the impending conclusion of President Arif Alvi’s five-year term next month, he will retain his position until the election of his successor. According to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the Constitution dictates that the president will continue to serve until a new president is elected. In the event of President Alvi’s resignation, the Senate chairman or, if unavailable, the National Assembly speaker will assume the role.
