Nawaz Sharif finalizes interim premier’s name

ISLAMABAD, Aug 7 (SABAH): Former premier and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has reached a significant milestone in the appointment of the interim premier as he finalizes the candidate’s name and has directed Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif that the selected name should not be disclosed until meeting with Opposition Leader Raja Riaz Ahmed Khan.

The name of the caretaker prime minister would be announced after consultation of PM Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Raja Riaz.

In a series of consultations, Nawaz Sharif engaged with prominent political figures, including PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F Ameer Maulana Fazlur Rehman, to discuss the appointment of the caretaker prime minister.

Recently, he also consulted with his younger brother and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on this crucial matter.

Following the consultations, Nawaz Sharif forwarded three names to PM Shahbaz Sharif; however, he had instructed that the selected name should not be disclosed until a meeting with the opposition leader.

The next step in the process involves Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif meeting the opposition leader within the next 36 hours. If a consensus is reached during this meeting, the caretaker prime minister’s announcement will be made accordingly. However, if consensus proves not fruitful, the proposed names will be forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for consideration and selection.

It is noteworthy that even after the dissolution of the assembly, Shahbaz Sharif will continue serving as the prime minister in the absence of a consensus on the caretaker prime minister. He will continue working until the ECP officially announces the selected candidate for this crucial interim position.