Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has termed the proposal of former Supreme Court chief justice (R) Gulzar Ahmed for the position of caretaker prime minister while the apex court was to give a verdict on the rejection of the no-confidence motion by National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri a “blatant attempt to subvert the constitution”.
The PML-N president made the comments in a letter addressed to President Dr. Arif Alvi. Shehbaz stated in the letter that there could be no agreement on CJ Gulzar’s name while the Supreme Court was yet to decide on the previous assembly’s status.
Shehbaz also emphasised in his letter that the ruling of the NA deputy speaker was a violation of the constitution and the code of conduct of the lower house.
The PML-N president argued that the “entire superstructure”, and whatever that came after the ruling, including notifications, prime minister’s advice for dissolution, continuity of the prime minister’s tenure, were illegal and “without lawful authority”.
Shehbaz further highlighted the fact that the Supreme Court was still hearing the case of the recent political developments and was yet to give a verdict on whether the deputy speaker’s ruling was legal or not, and the legality of the actions of the prime minister and president subsequent to the ruling.
He opined that the “hurried process” of the proposal of names for the caretaker prime minister was a “violation of law and constitution”.
On Monday, President Dr. Arif Alvi had written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, seeking their consultation on appointment of an interim prime minister.
According to the letter, Imran Khan would continue to hold office till the appointment of the caretaker prime minister under Article 224A(4) of the constitution.
Following the letter, PM Khan had nominated former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Justice (R) Gulzar Ahmed for the post of the caretaker prime minister.
