Premier Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has refuted claims about the selection of candidates for the position of interim prime minister.
During an interview on the Dawn News, he stated that no candidates had been shortlisted as of now and consultations with both government allies and party members were an ongoing process.
He anticipated that the consultations would be concluded within the next day or two.
PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the significance of consensus within the ruling coalition and other political parties regarding the choice of the interim prime minister.
He stressed that the candidate’s selection should be “generally acceptable” to the people, suggesting that the collective decision-making process was crucial.
Addressing rumors about former Finance Minister Dr. Hafeez Sheikh being considered for the interim prime minister’s role, the premier reiterated that no definitive decision had been reached regarding any candidate.
According to the constitutional process, the prime minister and the opposition leader are granted a three-day window for consultation on the interim prime minister’s appointment, even after the dissolution of the assembly. If a consensus cannot be reached during this period, the matter is then referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan for resolution.
So far, names of many politicians, retired justice and economists surfaced that included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, former Prime Minister and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, former Permanent Representative to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pir of Pagaro Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, and former Punjab Governor and PPP’s Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood.
However, former finance minister Hafeez Sheikh is being considered top contender for the slot.
