Senior Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira stated on Monday that a politician should assume the role of caretaker prime minister. He mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated discussions with allied parties regarding the selection of an interim government.
During an interview on TDTOP News’ program ‘TDTOP Pakistan,’ Kaira emphasized that the prime minister would consult with the opposition leader following deliberations with coalition partners.
Kaira’s statement followed Prime Minister Shehbaz’s announcement that the government would hand over power to interim rulers before the completion of the assembly’s tenure, which ends on August 12 at midnight. This would provide the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with a 90-day window to schedule the election.
Kaira asserted that political offices should only be held by politicians, as it is their responsibility. He emphasized that the position of prime minister is the highest political office in the country and should not be filled by judges, generals, bureaucrats, technocrats, journalists, or corporate sector employees, as it would diminish the significance of the role.
He highlighted the impracticality of a scenario where he, a politician, would be appointed to a vacant seat in a high court or the Supreme Court, questioning his ability to administer justice in such a capacity.
Kaira argued that political figures should occupy key positions such as prime minister, ministers, and chief ministers, as these roles should not be allocated to individuals from other domains.
Regarding election reforms, Kaira suggested that they could be finalized within a few days and mentioned that the election commission had already commenced the process based on the previous census. He further noted that the commission would require four months for new delimitation.
He urged political parties to promptly legislate on election reforms once the consultations are completed.