Patriot Report
ISLAMABAD: Former chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Saturday said an interim Prime Minster should be appointed during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s absence, warning of a “constitutional crisis” if such a move is not made.
The premier, who is in London for medical treatment, will undergo an open-heart surgery on the 31st and will likely remain hospitalised for at least a week.
Talking to media persons here on Saturday, Iftikhar Chaudhry said that there is no room of deputy prime minister in the constitution of the country.
He noted that it would be against the constitution if the charge of Prime Minister was granted to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. “If any such notification is issued, it would be completely unconstitutional,” he added.
The chief of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJDP) further said, “In order to avoid constitutional crisis, there is a need to elect an interim Prime Minister in the absence of Nawaz Sharif.”
Chaudhry went on to say that without approval of the Prime Minister, it was constitutionally impossible to finalise the budget since the rules of business clearly state “only the PM can approve and sign it”. He also prayed for early recovery of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif