Interim PM: Parliamentary Committee discusses Dr Ishrat, Justice (R) Zahid

ISLAMABAD: The bipartisan eight-member Parliamentary Committee formed under article 224-A of the Constitution is meeting for the second day to reach consensus on the caretaker prime minister out of four nominees from the government and opposition here on Thursday.

The committee comprising four members each from the government and the opposition on Wednesday held its maiden meeting and elected Ghulan Ahmed Bilour as its chairman. However, the position will be held by both the sides on a rotational basis.

During the first meeting, the committee discussed the names of Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Rasool Bux Palijo for the caretaker prime minister besides framing rules of business.

The committee is discussing names of Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Dr Ishrat Hussain for the coveted post of the interim prime minister during its second meeting today.

The government has nominated Dr Ishrat Husain and Justice (Retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, while the PML-N has finalized the names of Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid and Rasool Bux Palijo for the post of caretaker prime minister.

The ball for picking the interim prime minister is rolling towards the Election Commission of Pakistan’s court as both sides have toughened their positions on their respective nominees.

Former opposition leader Ch. Nisar Ali Khan had also said that the matter would finally be decided by the Election Commission.

If the committee fails in picking the caretaker prime minster within four days, the matter would be decided by the Election Commission of Pakistan within two days.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Khursheed Shah, Ghullam Ahmed Bilour and Farroq Naek, are representing the government while Parvez Rasheed, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Khwaja Saad Rafique and Sardar Yaqoob are representing the opposition in the committee.