ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk was named caretaker prime minister on Monday. The announcement was made by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah at a press conference in Islamabad following a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
Khursheed Shah announced that Justice (retd) Mulk will take reigns as caretaker premier while addressing a press conference along with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
“We have selected a candidate for caretaker premier who will prove to play a democratic role in the upcoming general election,” the premier said while addressing the press conference.
“Every name was discussed, and this name was decided upon. It’s a name no one can point fingers at,” PM Abbasi added.
The premier added, “Today is a historic day for Pakistan and democracy.”
As PM Abbasi asked the leader of the opposition to announce the name of caretaker premier, Shah said, “We are happy that the government was able to complete its five-year term.”
Thanking the NA speaker for his “major role” in the government and opposition reaching an agreement, Shah added, “It was a challenge for all of us and all names that were put forth were credible and respectable individuals.”
“We tried to make a decision which will be acceptable to the nation and Parliament,” Shah further said.
Shah said “We have made a democratic decision. I am thankful to the prime minister, to the speaker, for making this decision with patience, setting aside our emotions.”
“We have chosen this name on the basis of merit. We took our parties into confidence and decided upon this name,” the leader of the opposition in NA added.
“I am hopeful he will successfully conduct free, fair and impartial elections in Pakistan on July 25, 2018,” Shah concluded.
This was the sixth meeting between the two, with the previous five ending in a deadlock.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman took to Twitter to congratulate the former chief justice moments after the decision was announced.
Justice (r) Nasir ul Mulk was born on 17 Aug, 1950 and belongs to Swat, KPK. He has served as a judge in Peshawar High Court, Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Election Commissioner before. He headed the bench that ousted PM Gillani from office for contempt of court.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk did his Bar-at-Law from the Inner Temple, London in 1976. He delivered lecturers in Khyber Law College, Peshawar and the Peshawar University besides delivering lectures as Guest Speaker at NWFP Provincial Services Academy, Peshawar.
He practiced as an Advocate in all field of Law for more than 17 years till his elevation as judge of the Peshawar High Court. He also remained as Chief Justice Peshawar High Court for some time before his elevation as judge of the Supreme Court.
He was elected as Secretary General, Peshawar High Court Bar Association in 1981 He was also elected twice as President of High Court Bar Association Peshawar in 1990 and 1993. He also remained Advocate General, NWFP in 1993. He also remained Chairman, Federal Review Board of Pakistan, since 2009. INP/NNI
