In the lead-up to the dissolution of the National Assembly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah made a surprising revelation on Sunday. He disclosed that the name of the former finance minister of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Hafeez Shaikh, has been shortlisted for the position of caretaker prime minister.
Today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly announced that the National Assembly would be dissolved on August 9, three days before the lower house of parliament’s term was scheduled to expire.
The current assembly’s tenure is set to end on August 12. Elections will be held within 60 days if it completes its full term. However, should the assembly be dissolved before completing its tenure, the Constitution dictates that the polls must be held within 90 days.
Caretaker Prime Minister
During an appearance on Geo News’ program “Naya Pakistan,” the security czar revealed that the name of a retired Supreme Court judge is also among the candidates shortlisted for the coveted interim prime minister post.
“The name for the interim prime minister will be finalized by Tuesday or Wednesday (August 8 or 9),” he added.
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In response to a question, the federal minister clarified that the names of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are not part of the list.
Sources with inside knowledge claimed that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former Punjab governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood’s name is also on the list of shortlisted candidates.
These well-placed sources further revealed that Mehmood, Abbasi, and Shaikh are all being considered for the interim premier position.
Additionally, Aslam Bhutani and Fawad Hasan Fawad have entered the race for the role of caretaker PM.
Who is Hafeez Shaikh?
Hafeez Shaikh, a renowned Pakistani political economist with a distinguished career spanning over three decades, served as the finance minister from 2010 to 2013.
In 2012, he joined the ranks of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and successfully contested in the 2012 Senate elections.
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Following his tenure in the government, Shaikh took on the role of a general partner in an international investment company based in New York. Under his guidance, the company established a substantial $1.38 billion fund dedicated to investments in Asia.
However, in March 2021, then-Prime Minister Khan removed him from the position of finance minister, and Hammad Azhar was entrusted with the additional charge of the finance ministry.