ISLAMABAD: July 25, 2023: A plan of the Pakistan Mulsim League Nawaz (PMLN) to pitch Finance minister, Ishaq Dar, for appointing caretaker prime minister has backfired as Pakistan People Party (PPP), a major ally of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) government, did not buy the idea of installing a highly controversial person for holding next general elections in the country.
A couple of days, PMLN made a cunning move and released the news in the media through likeminded media persons that PPP and PMLN have reached a consensus to appoint Ishaq Dar as a caretaker prime minister. The PMLN leaders-cum drum beaters like Khawaja Asif , Ahsin Iqbal and many other as usual rushed to second the idea through the media talks.
PPP immediately denied any consensus on the name of Ishaq Dar as a caretaker prime minister. Its spokesperson, Faisal Karim Kundi and senator Farhat ullah Babar vehemently denied the reports of consensus between PPP and PMLN on the name of Ishaq Dar for the office of a caretaker prime minister.
Within 24 hours , PPP senator and federal minister, Sheri Rehman, had a press conference to give a loud and clear message to PMLN that PPP will not accept in any case Ishaq Dar as a caretaker prime minister. PPP had very logical approach on the issue. Its leaders argued that Ishaq Dar being a close relative of Nawaz Sharif and a Finance minister of the sitting government will not be acceptable to the public and other stakeholders of the system.
Seeing sharp reaction from PPP, PMLN took a sharp U turn on the subject. Khawaja Asif who was staunch supporter of Ishaq Dar for the caretaker prime minister came with a reserve swing to Mr Dar. This time he brought a new version saying Ishaq Dar’s nomination for a caretaker prime minister was not inevitable.
Ishaq Dar’s proposed nomination for the caretaker prime minister has many dimensions. First, PMLN leadership wants to keep the system within the family for executing its future plan to gain power. Second, it suggests how 18th amendment for which PPP takes a credit has made the system hostage to two persons—leader of the house (PM) and leader of the opposition in the national assembly both major stakeholders and beneficiaries. The drama of installing friends or relatives likes Ishaq Dar will continue as long as 18th amendment in a part of the constitution.
PPP’s founder and former prime minister , Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto , had given a consensus constitution called constitution of 1973 to run the country and the same PPP abrogated the constitution by introducing completely ill-conceived 18th amendment in it. The 18th amendment will keep haunting Pakistan in many ways as long as its part of the constitution.
