— PM Abbasi and Opposition Leader in NA Khursheed Shah playing instrumental role in holding back-channel talks
—Names of Dr Ishrat Hussain, Justice (r) Tasadduq Hussain Jilani, Justice (r) Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk shortlisted for caretaker PM
ISLAMABAD: The top leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have intensified back-channeling to evolve a consensus on the names of the caretaker prime minister and the cabinet. So far, four names have been shortlisted for the slot of the caretaker premier, Pakistan Today has learned reliably.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday also hinted towards the opening of backchannel contacts between the two parties to reach an agreement on the matter of the caretaker setup.
While speaking to media persons in Multan, Bilawal said both the parties were in touch with each other over the caretaker prime minister’s nomination issue and Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah would evolve a consensus in connection with the nomination.
Sources in the two parties claimed that though no name had been finalised for the slot of caretaker PM so far, but both the parties were in touch with each other through unofficial channels to reach an agreement on the nomination.
“PM Abbasi and Khursheed Shah are trying hard to evolve a consensus on the caretaker prime minister’s nominee. Senior leadership in both the parties are cognisant of the fact that if they fail to come up with a nominee, the matter may go to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the parliamentary committee – a situation which would be unacceptable to Nawaz Sharif, as well as Asif Zardari,” a source in the ruling party said.
The source said that formally the prime minister and opposition leader had met thrice to discuss the nomination matter but informally both the politicians have met half a dozen times to discuss the matter.
The source said that last time Abbasi and Shah met on April 10 officially but recently they again met unofficially to discuss the important issue in detail.
“The back-channel talks between Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari are being assisted by PM Abbasi and Shah. The communication has remained successful of late regardless of the strong statements being given by these leaders in the media,” the source said.
The source further said that Abbasi had been given a message by the PPP chief through Shah and the premier would reply to the message after consultations with top party leadership.
“Perhaps, the London meeting between Abbasi and Nawaz Sharif would pave the way for a breakthrough on the nomination of the caretaker government. Hopefully, Sharif would agree on Zardari’s nominees,” the source added.
However, a PPP leader said that Asif Zardari was very optimistic about the prospects of his party despite recent desertions by the party’s heavyweights in Punjab.
The source said that Zardari, during the party meetings, was talking about his plan to grab the top post by muscling out his adversaries.
“Perhaps, even if Nawaz Sharif is side-lined, he would be a happy man if PPP grabs the top slot after the elections. Due to this, the PPP co-chairman has been telling the party leaders to prepare for the elections by claiming that the military establishment, as well as Nawaz Sharif, would support his candidature for the top slot,” the PPP leader said while speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Who will be the caretaker PM?
Though the top leaders of the PPP and PML-N leaders are keeping their cards close to their chests, the second-tier leadership in both the parties believe that the two parties were close to reaching an agreement on the names for the caretaker premier.
A PML-N leader told Pakistan Today on the condition of anonymity that both the parties had narrowed down on the names of Dr Ishrat Hussain, Justice (r) Tasadduq Hussain Jilani, Justice (r) Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk for the caretaker prime minister.
“In my view, Justice (r) Tasadduq Hussain Jilani and Dr Ishrat Hussain are the favourites. However, one can never bet on the unpredictability of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari as both could pull a surprise in this connection,” the ruling party leader said.
It merits mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also agreed on the names of Dr Ishrat and Justice (r) Jilani for the caretaker setup.
“Justice (r) Jilani is critical for the PML-N as he may be able to mend the bridges between the ruling party and the judiciary. On the other hand, Dr Ishrat may help the country resolve the huge financial predicament it had been facing for some time now,” the source said.
Another PPP leader said that Zardari wanted Justice (r) Anwar Zaheer Jamali to be appointed as the caretaker PM as the former chief justice of Pakistan was very cordial towards the political leadership and belonged to Sindh province.
Jamali never exercised judicial activism and did not take any action against the top political elite despite the fact that PTI’s protests had gained strength when Jamali was in office.
PML-N Secretary Information Mushahidullah Khan did not respond to phone calls on his cellular phone for comments. PPP Secretary Information Maula Bux Chandio could also not be reached for comments by this scribe.
