Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ali Khan has opened a new Pandora’s Box by nominating seven leaders from various segments of society for appointment as caretaker prime minister, with almost no chances of reaching consensus over two nominees, which are to be sent to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
Nisar told reporters at Parliament House that he had shared seven names with leaders of other opposition parties for the appointment of a consensus caretaker prime minister, and the proposed list included two retired judges, one lawyer leader and four people who were related to politics. However, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has not been taken into confidence, as the PML-N considers the religious faction as a treasury party, he said. Background interactions with most of the PML-N and other opposition parties’ leaders have revealed that the PML-N has proposed the names of Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (r) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, lawyer leader and human rights activist Asma Jahangir, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Awami Tehreek leader Rasool Bukhsh Palejo, Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal and the former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Qazi Hussain Ahmed.
Moreover, Nisar said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has proposed the names of Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoaib Suddle and leading entrepreneur and former commerce minister Abdur Razzaq Dawood. The chances of reaching a consensus look bleak, as approximately all nominees of PML-N are either nationalists, vocal human rights activists known to be anti-establishment or are former public servants having an inclination towards the PML-N. The nomination of Sardar Attaullah Mengal looks like a symbolic move as Mengal has time and again claimed he had no faith in the federation.
Nisar said he had contacted Sardar Akhtar Mengal in Dubai and sought his approval for nomination of his father for caretaker PM’s slot. However, Nisar added that Mengal said he should not do so as Sardar Attaullah would not agree.
“But I insisted and told Akhtar Mengal that we are doing so and he should try to convince his father,” Nisar added, reflecting that the nomination was merely symbolic to win hearts and minds of the nationalist forces in Balochistan. Moreover, the nomination of Rasool Bakhsh Palejo would not please President Asif Ali Zardari, as the former is leading a rant against the PPP’s Sindh government. Same is the case of Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who has been a vocal critic of the Establishment and always speaks against dictators. Though Achakzai has recently visited the federal capital and met almost all political leaders, he has failed to get massive support. Qazi Hussain Ahmed is another controversial name as left-wing parties like PPP, Awami National Party (ANP), and even Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F would oppose his nomination for the top slot. When contacted, a PPP leader said he could not comment over the nominations that were yet to be made public.
PTI’s Justice (r) Wajihuddin Ahmed also said he would not comment prematurely. However, the PTI’s nominees look less controversial and acceptable for politicians and the judiciary. Abdur Razzaq Dawood is a former minister with a good reputation and also enjoys support of the business community, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and even the PTI. Moreover, Dr Shoaib Suddle is known for his integrity and competence, though some nationalists from Sindh might point fingers at him for his alleged role in the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto.
Despite his close links with the Presidency, Suddle is also acceptable to the judiciary, as an apex court bench recently nominated him as a one-man commission to probe the Dr Arsalan-Malik Riaz graft case. However, PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood vehemently rejected Nisar’s claim that the party was consulted over the names for caretaker prime minister, denying that it had suggested any name for the post. Mahmood expressed disappointment that someone as responsible as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly was giving “fabricated statements about the PTI”.
The PTI official said that the party had neither been contacted over proposals for caretaker prime minister, nor had it suggested any names for the caretaker setup. “If and when the party is consulted, and it should be, the party would discuss the matter thoroughly and then suggest some names. Until then the N-League should stop playing politics and leveling false accusations against the PTI,” Shafqat added. Commenting on Mahmood’s denial, Nisar said, “We sent the names to PTI and it is on the record.” He said the PTI had been informed about the nominees and added that the PTI had also sent two names to be included in the list of the nominees. According to Nisar, PTI has now reneged from its stand and is saying that it has not suggested any names.
Nisar said that PTI first submitted the names but then said that it was not done with consultation within its party yet. “If PTI did not consult its party members then it is their fault, not ours. We will add the two names proposed by PTI if it accepts the fact that it had received these names from the PML-N,” he said.