Sheikh Rasheed acquires nomination papers for PM
The opposition parties are yet to agree on a joint candidate
July 30, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed acquired nomination papers for the election of the new prime minister on Sunday.
Rasheed, an ally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), reached Parliament House on Sunday to get the nomination papers and was accompanied by PTI leaders Babar Awan and Murtaza Satti.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's Sheikh Aftab, Abdul Qadir Baloch and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also reached the assembly secretariat to acquire nomination papers. All three were ministers in Nawaz Sharif's cabinet; however, Abbasi has been finalised as the interim premier by the ruling party.
Sources said PTI Chairman Imran Khan has agreed to Rasheed being the party's candidate for the premiership.
However, the PTI is yet to be publically supported by other opposition parties on Rasheed's selection.
Talking to the media on Sunday, Rasheed said he looks forward to the decision of the opposition parties for fielding a joint candidate, adding that whatever the opposition leader decides he will agree to it.
Rasheed claimed the Pakistan Mulsim League-Q supports his candidacy for prime minister, and thanked Imran Khan for nominating him as the PTI's choice for prime minister.
Talking about Nawaz Sharif's disqualification, Rasheed said the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case will drag down Shehbaz Sharif — the candidate of the ruling party for the next prime minister.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat's schedule, nomination papers for the slot of prime minister can be obtained by 3pm today. The nomination papers have to be submitted back to the assembly secretariat by 2pm on Monday.
The National Assembly Speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, will then scrutinise the papers at 3pm the same day, following which the assembly will meet to elect the leader of the House on Tuesday, August 1.
The opposition parties, under the leadership of Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, will meet at 10am Monday to discuss fielding a joint candidate for the post of prime minister.
Then prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from holding public office by the Supreme Court on Friday.
Sharif was disqualified under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution over his failure to disclose un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from a UAE-based company. It implied he was not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’, as per the country’s Constitution.
