Islamabad: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, whose name was floated as the interim prime minister, claims the discussions for the coveted position are “premature” and that the selection process has not even started. In an interview, he stated that the choice would be made by the leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the coalition in power at the Centre. Party insiders were cited by mainstream media as suggesting that Dar had been chosen as the caretaker prime minister by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), a significant member of the current coalition. But thereafter, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also expressed hesitation to support the finance minister, in addition to political commentators who had previously criticised the idea.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also shot down the speculations and said that no one close to the top PML-N leadership — the Sharif family — would be picked as the interim PM to ensure that fingers aren’t pointed at the caretaker setup.
In his interview, the finance czar said he would accept the leadership’s decision on the appointment, but noted that the caretaker setup’s powers should be enhanced.
Dar said the interim government’s tenure should be 90 days, not 60 days — as sources have indicated that the PDM-led government may dissolve assemblies before their term ends, providing the caretaker setup 90 days.
He added that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for holding polls in a transparent manner.
With the polls expected later this year, Dar hinted at the return of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif ahead of the elections.
“The parliament has decided to limit the disqualification of parliamentarians to 5 years […] and Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen have completed their time,” the PML-N leader said.
“The country needs a leader like Nawaz Sharif and he will back with a ‘bang’,” he said.
The law limiting the disqualification of lawmakers to a period of up to five years was approved last month.
Defending his policies, Dar said he had repeatedly stressed that Pakistan would not default.
Taking a jibe at the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Dar said “serious” people have begun leaving the former ruling party after the May 9 mayhem.
