Six lawmakers file papers for PM slot

• Each opposition party throws weight behind different candidates

As many as six candidates including one from the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and five from the different opposition parties on Monday filed nomination papers for the election – scheduled for Tuesday (today) – to the office of the prime minister.

PML-N sole candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi filed six nomination papers while Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Syed Naveed Qamar of the Pakistan People’s Party, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed of PTI-PML-Q and Kishwar Zehra of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement filed one nomination paper each.

Shahid Khaqan reached the office of the National Assembly secretary along with party colleagues and filed his nomination papers. He has no covering candidate for the slot. Time for filing of the nomination papers was 1400 hours on Monday after which Speaker Ayaz Sadiq accepted the nomination papers of all the six candidates after scrutiny.

Talking to the media persons at the Parliament House, Shahid Khaqan said that he would take forward the development agenda of the party. He said the country was facing many challenges and their efforts would be aimed at steering the country out of them. Other leaders also expressed the hope to bring a consensus candidate for the top slot.

PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi said that Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was consensus candidate of their party and the PTI. “However, the opposition parties are negotiating to reach a consensus,” he said. Tariqullah said Khursheed Shah could be a consensus candidate. However, consultation still continues,” he said and hoped for an overall consensus.

For the PML-N candidate, the proposers are Shehzadi Umarzadi Tawana, Rana Qasim Noon, Ayaz Shah Sherazi, Arshad Leghari, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Rana Hayat Khan. Seconders in these nomination papers are Saira Afzal Tarar, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Ghalib Khan and Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

Ejaz Khan Jakhrani proposing Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Nawab Ali Wassan seconding him; Shahida Rehmani proposing Naveed Qamar and Musarrat Rafiq Mahesay seconding him. In other two papers, MNA Shah Mahmood Qureshi proposed Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as PTI-backed candidate whose seconder is Tariq Basher Cheema, while MNAs Sheikh Salahuddin and Sohail Mansoor proposed and seconded Kishwar Zehra of MQM and Ayesha Syed and Sahibzada Yaqoob proposed and seconded Tariqullah.

Shahid Khaqan said that the leadership would take decision about the federal cabinet and everyone would work effectively like earlier it was going on. To a question, he said that there was no harm if the premier himself holds the post of a foreign minister. He said that the final decision in this regard would be taken by the party leadership.

He also stated that cordial ties with neighbouring countries would be continued. He said that Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was free to file reference against him as they know each other very well. Talking to PTV News, he vowed to work for strengthening democratic system and economic policies for betterment of people.

He said that his scrutiny of the papers submitted for the premiership had been accepted and today (Tuesday), will be the elections for PM Office. The oath taking would also be held the same day, he said. He said that all out efforts would be made to further improve the policies particularly economic policies to achieve development and prosperity.

To a question about stock exchange, he said, that the stock exchange has shown upward trend. Earlier, a meeting between the opposition members ended without the consensus on a single candidate for the prime minister’s post.

In the wake of the prime minister’s disqualification, President Mamnoon Hussain had called a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday [August 1] for the election of a prime minister. According to the party’s strategy, Shahid Khaqan will vacate his seat to pave the way for Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take the chief executive’s position if and when the latter is elected to the National Assembly.

The opposition failed to agree on one nominee, with each party throwing its weight behind different candidates who also submitted their nomination papers. PTI put forward Sheikh Rashid’s name, but could not gain the support of any other party apart from the PML-Q.

The PPP said it would not back Rashid because of PTI chief Imran’s criticism of Asif Zardari in a speech a day earlier. Imran had accused Zardari of corruption and promised to pursue the former president in corruption cases. Defending the party’s decision, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the AML chief deserved the honour of becoming the prime minister.