President Dr. Arif Alvi issued a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif, the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly, on Monday, requesting names of eligible candidates for appointment as interim premier under Article 224-A (1) of the Constitution.
The news comes a day after the NA deputy speaker rejected a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the latter’s suggestion, the president dismissed the lower house of Parliament.
According to the letter, the National Assembly and the federal government were dissolved on Sunday under Article 58(1) of the Constitution.
According to the president, Prime Minister Imran Khan would remain in office till the interim premier is appointed under Article 224-A (4) of the Constitution.
“As per Article 224-A (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the president shall select a interim prime minister in consultation with the prime minister and the head of the opposition in the outgoing NA,” the letter stated.
Alvi told the two that if they do not reach an agreement on the appointment within three days of the NA’s dissolution, they must each send two nominees to a committee chaired by the speaker and made up of eight members of the outgoing NA, the Senate, or both, with equal representation from the Treasury and the opposition.
The prime minister and the leader of the opposition will nominate members of the committee from the treasury and opposition benches, respectively, in accordance with Article 224-A (1) of the Pakistani Constitution.
“It is worth noting that, under Article 224-A (1) of the Constitution, the president has the authority to designate a caretaker prime minister in consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in the outgoing NA,” according to a handout from the President’s Secretariat.
Shehbaz, on the other hand, said that he would not participate in the process, calling it “illegal.” He said the president and prime minister had breached the law and questioned how they would deal with the opposition.
Bilawal told a news conference with Shehbaz that the Constitution had outlined the procedure of choosing and removing the prime minister, and that the government could not “jump” these.
“The opposition leader and the Prime Minister have a private conversation. But, without a house, who will be the leader and who will be the opposition? “He went on to say that the no-trust motion could not be resolved without a vote.
Fawad Chaudhry, the departing information minister, seems unconcerned with Shehbaz’s unwillingness to take part in the process of choosing a temporary premier.
He told the media in Islamabad that the country was preparing for the upcoming elections and that the opposition’s claims that the government’s activities were “unconstitutional” were unfounded.
“Pakistan is preparing for the upcoming elections, Shehbaz has stated that he would not participate in the process. Today, we forwarded two names to the president. One of these will be finalized if [Shehbaz] does not deliver the names within seven days “he stated.
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