Law expert Amjad Pervez, in a statement, has indicated that Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, who also leads the house in the Senate, is constitutionally qualified to assume the role of caretaker prime minister. Dar’s appointment would be viable if sanctioned by the house and opposition leaders of the National Assembly. Furthermore, Pervez clarified that Dar would not need to resign from his Senate membership if appointed interim premier.
The Role and Restrictions of Caretaker Ministers
Caretaker ministers hold identical powers and responsibilities to those they substitute, including elected prime ministers, chief ministers, and ministers. The caretaker prime minister and provincial chief ministers hold full authority to designate key positions within the bureaucracy, albeit in consultation with the ECP. However, they, their spouses, and their children are ineligible to contest elections under the caretaker government, as per Article 224-A(1B) of the constitution.
Caretaker ministers, while not legally required to possess any qualifications, are expected to be neutral and devoid of any political party affiliations. The 18th and 20th constitutional amendments have made the selection of caretaker ministers more consultative and transparent, involving the president, the incumbent prime minister, and the leader of the opposition.
If no agreement is reached regarding the interim premier within three days following the National Assembly’s dissolution, the decision falls on a Parliamentary Committee.
In the event of disagreement within the committee, the matter proceeds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which is entrusted to make the final decision within two days. Throughout this process, the incumbent prime minister or chief minister retains their position until their caretaker successor is appointed.
