LAHORE – PML-N President Nawaz Sharif is returning home today (Tuesday) after completing a 12-day visit to Germany and England where he attended a business conference organised by the overseas chapter of the party, meeting various personalities and the press.
On the arrival of the PML-N chief, the sources say, an informal meeting with the party leaders is expected wherein among the other matters, that relating to the appointment of caretaker prime minister and interim setup is likely to be taken up. They say party will float the name of the caretaker prime minister for the next elections, after taking all Opposition parties, inside and outside the parliament on board.
As to names so far come to surface as being discussed between the PPP and the PML-N, they say, these contacts are informal and nothing has been finalised between them. They say the PML-N intends to present that name for the caretaker prime minister which is acceptable to all the parties.
The party is considering the names, which include human rights activist and senior jurist Asma Jahangir, Pakistan Permanent Representative in UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon, senior advocate Aitzaz Ahsan and former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, for the caretaker prime minister.
They say Mr Jamali stays more close to the heart of the party leaders than the others but final decision will be taken after holding discussion at the CWC level and taking other parties into confidence.
The sources further say that the PML-N is also thinking to discuss with the government the matter of seeking date for the next elections and the caretaker setup by August 14. The formal debate and action will be taken on the same after arrival of the party chief Nawaz Sharif.
In the light of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the government needs to establish caretaker setup in consultation with the opposition.