Now under the Constitution, the ECP will be required to choose one of the four candidates for caretaker Prime Ministership within two days (Saturday and Sunday). Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had proposed the names of former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Dr Ishrat Husain while Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had recommended the names of former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Rasool Bux Palejo to the Parliamentary Committee for the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister.
A dejected Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, one of the members from the government side, told media at the end of committee's talks: "It is quite unfortunate that politicians squandered a unique opportunity." Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, powers were given to the Parliament under 18th Constitutional Amendment and a Committee was constituted to decide about the name of caretaker Prime Minister.
"The Committee held talks over four names - two each forwarded by Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition - but it could not succeed to select one name for the caretaker Prime Ministership. Now the matter will go to the ECP to decide about it," a visibly dispirited Khurshid said. Answering a question, Khurshid said that parliament had constituted Election Commission of Pakistan and "we will accept its decision".
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi said the Committee had made hectic efforts with sincerity of purpose to reach consensus under the Constitution. "We made efforts in three days with honesty, but could not reach any decision. The four proposed names are highly respectable. Now it is the responsibility of the ECP to decide within next two days," he said with a downcast glance at media persons.
Answering a question, Abbasi said the constitutional scope of the Committee was limited and it had to work under the given ambit.
Khawaja Saad Rafique of PML-N said, "It is not our failure to evolve consensus on any of the four proposed names. We will not put any blame on any of these four names, because all of them are highly respectable individuals. Now the ECP will select the name for caretaker Prime Minister." He said talks were held in a congenial atmosphere. Both sides showed flexibility, according to him.
Senator Farooq H Naek of PPP said that it was first experience of the Committee to select caretaker Prime Minister under Article-224A of the Constitution within three days. "There are loopholes in Article-224A and we should deliberate on it. The role of Committee is limited and it should be enhanced accordingly," he added. "I will request the next parliament to look into the Article-224A. Now the four names will go to the ECP, which would choose one out of them," he said.
Earlier on Friday, the Committee held its three sessions of the meeting at Parliament House to discuss the names for the post of caretaker Prime Minister. The first session, which began at 10:30am, discussed merits and demerits and debated responses of questions raised on the suitability of candidates by both sides. The sources said that a deadlock persisted during the meeting because both sides showed no flexibility.
The sources said the government side raised objection on former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid by saying that he took oath under PCO in the tenure of General Zia-ul-Haq. They also queried why his brother-in-law's family nominated President Asif Ali Zardari in a murder case.
The PML-N members expressed reservations over the names of Dr Ishrat Husain and former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso. They said Dr Ishrat's close relative Ahmed Khalil was very close to President Asif Ali Zardari. They also said former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was once an active PPP worker. During the break for Friday prayer and lunch, the members of former ruling government and opposition held meetings separately and contacted their respective leaderships.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan held a news conference in front of the Parliament and stated that his party would accept the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) if the Parliamentary Committee decided to refer the matter on the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister to the ECP.
Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, who was going to committee room to attend the second session of the meeting, raised objections over the news conference of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. He told media persons that Nisar should have not held news conference when the matter was still under consideration of parliamentary committee. Answering a question, Shah said that former Justice Nasir Aslim Zahid had taken oath under PCO during the tenure of General Zia-ul-Haq. He said that it was the PML-N's stance not to accept any PCO judge in accordance with the Charter of Democracy (CoD).
Chaudhry Shujaat told reporters that Nisar had tried to sabotage the proceedings of committee. The second session of the meeting began at 3:30pm. In that session, the members of the committee could not reach any consensus as deadlock still persisted. The second round of the meeting also remained inconclusive. After the meeting, the members of the committee told the media that the Committee would meet again at 9:00 pm.
Syed Khurshid Shah said the PML-N members had asked for time to consult with the party leadership. Khawaja Saad Rafique said the PML-N had raised objections on the government's nominees in the committee, but had not made those objections public. Chaudhry Shujaat said it would be highly unfortunate if the decision was taken out of politicians' hands. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour had claimed they would not let the decision to be sent to a 'third empire' (Election Commission).