embers of the ruling coalition, especially the two main components: the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have apparently developed differences over the appointment of a caretaker prime minister and the powers to be vested in the caretaker setup.

Talking to The News on Sunday (TNS), several PML-N leaders said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was the frontrunner so far in the race for the caretaker appointment.

“The ‘kingmakers’ have been working on parallel lists. They have proposed at least 15 names from various walks of life [for the post of the caretaker prime minister]. They have proposed the names of three politicians, three retired judges, three economists, three other technocrats and three journalists. One of these will eventually be installed as the caretaker premier. Some of the rest may be included in the federal cabinet as ministers or advisors.”

The PML-N had formed a committee, comprising five members including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Saad Rafique for consultation with other allies about the caretaker setup. According to PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal, the consultation process has been started and the committee is engaged in talks with other parties. “No name has been finalised yet. Ishaq Dar may be appointed the caretaker prime minister if there is a consensus,” he said.

Some PML-N members say that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have decided to nominate Dar as the party’s choice for caretaker prime minister.

Dar, known for his proximity to Nawaz Sharif since the 1990s, has been in the spotlight for various reasons. His long association with Sharif turned into a family relationship after his son tied the nuptial knot with Asma Nawaz, Sharif’s younger daughter. Speaking anonymously, some PML-N members say several senior leaders in the party resent the fact that his opinions count for more on account of this relationship. “For some time now decision making in the party affairs has been confined mostly to Nawaz, Maryam, Dar and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif,” says one.

The perception that the PML-N wanted to install Dar as the caretaker premier was strengthened after the party proposed an amendment in the Election Act last week to provide more powers to the caretaker setup. However, other coalition partners seemed unwilling. On July 25, meeting for the parliament’s joint session, two major allies of the government, the PPP and the JUI-F, as well as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf voiced opposition to the proposed amendment before it could be tabled. The proposed clause would empower the caretaker prime minister to take administrative and economic decisions.

According to PML-N secretary general, Ahsan Iqbal, the consultation process has started. “No name has been finalised yet. Ishaq Dar may be appointed the caretaker prime minister if there is a consensus,” he says.

JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza said that his party did not support the amendment in Section 230 of the Election (Amendment) bill, 2023. Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani pointed out that it had not been discussed at the parliamentary committee meeting.

PPP’s Senator Taj Haider said that the amendment had not been discussed with the allies a priori. Jamaat-i-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq Ghani also expressed his reservations. Opposition from the treasury benches prompted Speaker Raja Parvaiz Ashraf to defer consideration of the bill.

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar tried to defend the amendment. “Empowering the caretaker government is meant to ensure the continuity of measures, taken under the recent deal with the International Monetary Fund. The caretaker setup is also being empowered to take decisions on urgent matters, including transfers that might have been made for political reasons.” The law minister insisted that the proposed amendments in the bill had been finalised in consultation with all the political parties represented in the parliament.

The reaction to the proposed amendment was seen as an indication that the PML-N wanted more powers for the caretaker prime minister. It was suggested that Nawaz Sharif was unwilling to take the risk unless a trustworthy person was going to be in the office.

Several laws have been amended after the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) came to power.

Federal Minister Sherry Rehman said the PML-N had not shared any proposals about caretaker nominees with the PPP. “The PPP is holding consultations within the party, but has not finalised or proposed any name to another party, as yet.”

PPP’s information secretary, Faisal Karim Kundi said: “Once, the PML-N shares a name with the PPP, we will consider pt. No name has been given so far.”

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, who has an important constitutional role in the appointment of the caretaker prime minister, has said that he would meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on August 1 for the mandatory consultation.

Former president Asif Zardari is in Dubai. It has been suggested that if the PML-N proposes Dar’s name for caretaker prime minister, he might approve it for political reasons. Dar is already being held responsible for the inflation, price-hike and economic misery of the masses and this has hurt the PML-N popularity. If he takes over as caretaker premier, he will have to implement some more harsh fiscal policies to fulfil the IMF conditions thereby further denting popular support for the PML-N. Many people opposed to the current government because of the economic conditions see the PPP as an alternative.

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher