Prospective Candidates Emerge for the Position of Caretaker Prime Minister Amidst Speculations of Extended Tenure
As the formation of a caretaker government looms on the horizon, the nation eagerly awaits the announcement of the Caretaker Prime Minister. Several prominent names have been circulating for some time, with the former judge and ex-Finance Minister, Hafeez Sheikh’s name now resurfacing.
Hafeez Sheikh returned to Pakistan at the government’s request and has maintained a low profile in Islamabad for several months. The impending decision regarding the Caretaker Prime Minister has sparked curiosity as to who will be selected or if a surprise candidate will emerge.
The position of Caretaker Prime Minister, according to the constitution and law, comes with specific, limited powers, including overseeing impartial and fair elections. However, it does not entail policy-making or significant decision-making authority, which is the domain of an elected government.
One factor contributing to these speculations was the amendment in the tenure of the caretaker government and former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s announcement to analyze the assemblies on August 9. This implied that the tenure of the Caretaker government would extend beyond the usual six months, making it a constitutional term of nine months with no fixed end date.