Ahmad supports calls for a caretaker government

Opposition leader urges Chief Justice to appoint interim prime minister

Aprominent opposition leader has made a plea to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to appoint an interim prime minister and four interim chief ministers to supervise the process for the next general elections due by mid-2018.

Leader of Awami Muslim League Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad, one of the staunch rivals of the ruling party made the request to Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, in a statement issued in Lahore on Sunday.

‘Neutral PM’

Ahmad called for the appointment of a neutral interim prime minister for the country and chief ministers for Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure transparency before the next elections are held.

The politician, who is also an ally of Imran Khan, chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also said the establishment of an independent and powerful interim administration was necessary before the next elections.

Pakistan’s opposition leaders are fearing the installation of a pro-ruling party interim set-up before 90-days from election, a condition elaborated in the Constitution.

Officially the elections are due by the end of June or July and a set interim set up must come by April if the elections are to be held on time.

Several other political opponents of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government have also called for setting up of an interim government to supervise and ensure fair and free elections in the country.

Conducive environment

One of the leading opponents of the government, General (Rtd.) Pervez Musharraf has also made repeated calls for establishment of a caretaker government in Pakistan to meet the rising challenges.

A caretaker government is mandated to hold the general elections within three months or 90 days and then hand over affairs of the state to the elected government as those holding official or ministerial positions cannot take part in elections.

As per the Pakistani Constitution, “the purpose of the caretaker Cabinet in Pakistan is to create a conducive environment for genuine elections, ensuring the neutrality of the government to facilitate a smooth transfer of power from one elected government to another.”

The Constitution also says that as a non-partisan administration, the caretaker’s primary role is to exercise the routine functions of government.