PPP, PML-N shortlisted five names for caretaker PM: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD: According to federal minister of defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have nominated five contenders for the role of caretaker prime minister. According to the media, he allegedly stated this in a statement on Friday. A PML-N stalwart claims that all of the nominated candidates are politicians. He continued by saying that he had not been approached with a suggestion to lead the temporary setup. Adding that the names of the candidates will also be considered with other political parties, he expressed the expectation that a name would be decided upon within a week. He stated that the top officials of the coalition partners would make the ultimate decision.

“In my opinion elections should be held in 90 days as it suits us,” he said while talking about the prevailing political situation in the country. He also hinted at premature dissolution of the National Assembly, saying: “I thing assemblies would be dissolved two days before their tenure ends”.

“It would have been very difficult if the field in the assembly had been left vacant,” he said. The defence minister also rubbished the reports that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s name had been recommended for the post of the caretaker prime minister. He said Mr Dar had never expressed such intensions at any forum.