ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) retired Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk has been nominated as Caretaker Prime Minister.
His name was announced by Leader of the Opposition Syed Khurshid Shah along with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at a news conference in Parliament House a short while ago.
His name has been finalized after several rounds of consultations spanning over six weeks between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
In their remarks on the occasion, the three leaders said Nasir-ul-Mulk is the consensus nominee and expressed the confidence that with his impeccable credentials, he would be able to hold general elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The Prime Minister said consensus on the name of the caretaker Prime Minister is a milestone in the journey of democracy in the country. He said the decision to pick a personality was not easy one but finally they have been able to nominate a person against whom no one can point an accusing finger.
Syed Khurshid Shah said it was a historic day as there were speculations that politicians and the parliament were not capable of taking decisions on their own.
He said all those considered during consultative process were respectable and credible names but Nasir-ul-Mulk has been chosen on merit.
He hoped that the consensus nominee would give free and fair elections to the country.
Khurshid Shah said the next elections are very crucial as Pakistan is passing through many challenges and problems.
He said it is also important that once again the Assembly is completing its mandated five year term. He also hoped that a fair transition would take place following general elections and whosoever gets mandate of the people would take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity.
Speaker National Assembly said it was a historic decision and would prove to be good for democracy and the country. He said the consensus on the name is a triumph of democracy and the parliament.
He said the name of the caretaker Prime Minister has been finalized after comprehensive consultations.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk took oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan on 6th July 2014 and served in the capacity for about a year. Earlier, he rendered nine years of laudable service as Justice of the apex court. During his tenure as judge of the Supreme Court, he was nominated as acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan.
His advent into the judiciary began with a series of legal appointments that eventually led to his nomination as a judge. In 1991, he was elected as the secretary general of Peshawar High Court Bar Association and then elected twice as the President of High Court Bar Association in 1990 and 1993. He was appointed as the advocate general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1993 and as judge of Peshawar High Court in 1994. In July 2004, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk was elevated as Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court.
