In his less than five-minute farewell speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday, prior to prorogation of the House, Shujaat Hussain laid emphasis on acceleration of measures to further improve the national economy.
He said: "My successor will have to do more to give relief to the masses in the next two years, and for this Shaukat Aziz will have to take some tough decisions."
He did not elaborate what type of decisions.
In this connection, he made mention of President Pervez Musharraf who, he said, had also taken difficult decisions.
He said that the government and the opposition would have to work together to find solutions to the problems confronting the nation.
He said that he was lucky to resign with dignity and grace as prime minister, fulfilling the responsibility he was assigned by the nation.
When he entered the House along with Shaukat Aziz, he was greeted by treasury benches by desk thumping. Ministers were quick to hug Shaukat Aziz, followed by other legislators. Jamali also met Shujaat and Shaukat and shared some thoughts with them, sitting in the front row.
Shujaat thanked the nation and the Parliament.
Shaukat Aziz, 53, is all set to bag at least 190 votes out of 342 members of National Assembly during ascertainment on Friday evening. The President has summoned a special NA session for this purpose at 4.00 p.m.
The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) had not been able to agree on a joint candidate for the premier's slot till the filing of this report. However, it is quite likely that PPPP will back PML (N) candidate Javed Hashmi.
One thing seems certain that the transition will be smooth. It may not be different from the one wherein Shujaat Hussain succeeded Zafarullah Jamali, as the opposition was neither united nor had enough strength to put up any challenge.
Nomination papers will be filed with National Assembly Secretariat on Thursday. These will be scrutinised the same day.
After the ascertainment, Shaukat would take oath as Prime Minister on Saturday (August 28), and vote of confidence from the Assembly thereafter. The President has summoned the National Assembly on August 27 at 4 pm.
Ascertainment schedule was also released by National Assembly Secretariat. It said that any member may propose or second the name of any other member for ascertainment as to who commanded the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly as required by clause 2(A) of the Constitution.
Shaukat won both National Assembly seats in bye-election last week, which had been vacated by two treasury members.
Meanwhile, hectic lobbying was on to retain ministries in the new Cabinet, expected to be formed within a week or so. Members of Shujaat Hussain cabinet were running from here to there to retain their ministries.
Anticipating changes in the cabinet, the members from the treasury and the opposition on Friday joined hands in the National Assembly, grilling some ministers.
They were no more 'ministers' within half an hour after Shujaat tendered his resignation.
Ostensibly, Pakistan People's Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement have said they would vote unconditionally for Shaukat Aziz. But, insiders say that all is not well on the coalition front. MQM has demanded of the powers that be that Babar Ghauri and Safwanullah should retain their ministries with full powers. "MQM has contended that key posts in both ministries are occupied by the military men, making their status symbolic," sources said.
Likewise, PPP has demanded the same portfolios it had in Jamali and Shujaat cabinets.
Some political sources even claimed that differences had cropped up between Sikandar Iqbal and Faisal Saleh Hayat over the issue of ministries. However, this could not be confirmed.