With the National Assembly dissolved late Wednesday, all eyes are set on who will lead the interim government and oversee the elections for the next elected government of Pakistan. The Coalition government dissolved the lower house of parliament prematurely on August 9, three days shy of its constitutional term ending on August 12, to allow the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold general elections within 90 days instead of 60 days stipulated time period. Who will be the Caretaker PM, who will lead the country to the upcoming election, is a question running rumor mills across the country. Whether the caretaker prime minister will be a bureaucrat or a politician, likely to be decided in the upcoming meeting of PM Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz scheduled for today.

 Names for caretaker PM emerge so far After Sadiq Sanjrani and Aslam Bhotani, another name for the coveted post of caretaker premier emerged. Sources claimed on Saturday that former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal could be a name to keep an eye on as the announcement for caretaker PM draws closer. Recently, the former chief minister held meetings with PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz and has emerged as a strong candidate if caretaker premier picked from Balochistan.

 The names of Ishaq Dar, Hafeez Sheikh among others surfaced for the interim premier’s slot. The name of Hafeez Sheikh, a former finance minister of Pakistan also being taken for a key portfolio in the upcoming caretaker setup. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) pitched former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani’s name for the caretaker Prime Minister slot yesterday. According to sources, PPP had suggested Jalil Abbas Jilani’s name for the caretaker PM during a meeting between former president Asif Zardari and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)