ISLAMABAD: In an unexpected twist, seasoned diplomat Ambassador (R) Jalil Abbas Jilani has emerged as a potential candidate for the role of Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The spotlight on Jilani intensified following statements made by former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit, who disclosed that Jilani was on his way to the Prime Minister House.
Basit, himself a distinguished diplomat, took to Twitter to extend his congratulations, hailing the development as a proud moment for the Foreign Service of Pakistan.
Congratulations to Ambassador (R) Jalil Abbas Jilani on his appointment as caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. A proud moment for the Foreign Service of Pakistan.
— Abdul Basit (@abasitpak1) August 9, 2023
The process of appointing the caretaker prime minister involves consultation between the outgoing Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
Who is Jalil Abbas Jilani?
Jalil Abbas Jilani is a former diplomat who served Pakistan at a diplomatic front. Jilani served as the foreign secretary of Pakistan after serving as Pakistan’s ambassador to various countries.
Jilani’s educational background boasts a law degree from the prestigious Oxford University, coupled with an M.Sc degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.
Upon retiring from his diplomatic responsibilities, Jilani continued his commitment to serving Pakistan by engaging with the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, a thinktank affiliated with the Pakistan Air Force. This demonstrated his unwavering dedication to matters of national security and defense.
Govt-Opposition Consultation
It is pertinent to mention here that the process of appointment of the interim Prime Minister involves consultation between the outgoing Prime Minister, who represents the government, and the National Assembly Opposition Leader, who represents the opposition parties.
A meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition leader Raja Riaz is expected this evening to deliberate and discuss potential candidates for the role of caretaker prime minister.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that he is going to send a summary to President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly today.
If the prime minister and the opposition leader do not agree on any name, the matter is to be referred to a parliamentary committee. In case of the parliamentary committee faces obstacles in reaching a decision, the matter will be left to the country’s electoral body to appoint a caretaker prime minister.
The aim behind dissolving the lower house of the parliament is to get one-month additional time for election preparation. According to the Constitution, if the National Assembly completes its stipulated tenure, elections are mandated within a span of 60 days. However, in the case of premature dissolution, this electoral window is extended to a period of 90 days.
Upon the president’s endorsement, the assembly will stand dissolved. However, if, for any reason, the president does not accord his approval to the advice, the assembly will automatically dissolve after 48 hours of the prime minister’s notification.
Hafeez Shaikh as Caretaker PM contender.
The dissolution of the National Assembly will pave the way for the commencement of a caretaker government. Amidst discussions of potential candidates for this transitional role, the name of Dr. Hafeez Shaikh has also consistently held prominence. Having previously served as the finance minister in former prime minister Imran Khan’s cabinet, Dr. Shaikh Hafeez enjoys support from diverse quarters including the establishment. Hafeez Shaikh has also held the portfolio of finance minister during the tenures of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the government led by Pervez Musharraf.
