Pakistan President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, marking an end of the tenure of the current government helmed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This has paved the way for the next general elections.
PM Sharif’s advice to dissolve the assembly came three days before the expiry of the parliament’s five-year term on August 12. Now a caretaker administration will be picked by Sharif and an opposition leader. The elections will be held in 90 days.
Who will take on the mantle remains to be seen but speculation is rife on the possible candidates, including former Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, former Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-Principal Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad, ex-Chief Justice Tassaduq Jilani.
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Former Foreign Secretary has emerged as the top candidate for the caretaker PM role. According to Dawn, his name was shared by the Pakistan People’s Party with the PM. The party reportedly wanted a politician but also a ‘strong man’ to head the interim set-up.
Dr Hafeez Sheikh was touted to be the best bet and the most likely candidate to become the interim PM. The economist had served as the finance minister before he was removed amid public pressure due to heavy inflation by Imran Khan. He has degrees in Economics from Boston University, Stanford University, Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.
Another likely candidate is Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The senior politician began his career as a chartered accountant in the public and private sector. Dar took oath as the FM for the fourth time amid the devastating floods that killed 1,600 people and destroyed homes, crops and infrastructure.
The former Prime Minister entered politics in 1988 after the death of his father. He is the senior VP of the Pakistan Muslim League and Secretary General of the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an anti-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) coalition.
Season bureaucrat, Fawad Hasan Fawad, who served as the Principal Secretary to two prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is in the fray too. He is known for his focus on infrastructure in the country that shored up sector-wide investments.
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, is believed to be another candidate for the role of caretaker PM. Jillani is considered to be a progressive judge and a proponent of civil liberties and fundamental rights. He has pronounced several landmark decisions on right to education, women’s rights and honour killings.
Former Foreign Minister and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, and politician Makhdoom Mehmood Ahmed are also in the fray to take on the mantle of caretaker PM.
If there is no agreement on the name, the matter will be taken up by the parliamentary committee. If they fail too, the election commission will have two days to come up with a name from the list. Till the caretaker PM is appointed, PM Sharif will act as the caretaker PM.