By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s lower house will elect an interim prime minister on Tuesday, August 1, to fill the vacuum created by ouster of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on account of Supreme Court’s verdict.
President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned the session of the National Assembly on Tuesday at 3.00 p.m.
Ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) has nominated Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Petroleum Minister and aviation sector tycoon as interim Prime Minister and named Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz Sharif as Prime Minister for rest of the term.
Main opposition party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf has fielded Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has the contestant in Tuesday’s election.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party holds a majority with 188 seats in the 342-member National Assembly. The party will elect the interim Premier easily provided no big defections take place in its ranks.
A quick installation of the interim government can help ease the political unrest , ensuing Friday’s Supreme Court decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif for not declaring a source of income. The court also ordered a investigation into him and his family.
The nominated interim Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that he would to continue Sharif’s mission.
The turmoil and the premature end to Sharif’s third stint in power has also raised questions about Pakistan’s democracy. No prime minister has completed a full term in power since the
country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
