PML-N decides to nominate Ishaq Dar as caretaker PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to nominate Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as the interim prime minister.

The government committee formed on the matter will take all other political parties in confidence on Dar’s appointment as caretaker PM.  Earlier today, PML-N and PPP’s top leadership were in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a huddle.

It was likely that the PML-N and PPP leaderships will consult on who the caretaker prime minister will be once the government dissolves the National Assembly at the start of August.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal stated during Geo News show “Naya Pakistan” that if there is agreement on Dar’s name across the board then he would be appointed the caretaker PM.

However, he had said that no decision has been taken yet, in front of him, on the appointment of an interim PM.

“Whatever decision is taken, the cabinet will be taken into confidence,” said Iqbal. However, he assured that there will be an agreement on a caretaker prime minister’s appointment in the last week of the government’s tenure as the standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) needs to be implemented.

As per the planning minister, a three-year program will have to be made with the IMF in the future and there is a need for a stable government that has a five-year mandate.

“My personal opinion is that we should go through the elections as soon as possible so that a stable government comes and takes the country out of the economic difficulties,” said Iqbal.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted a five-member committee of the PML-N to hold consultations on the selection of a caretaker premier and dissolution of the National Assembly.