ISLAMABAD: The People’s Party has picked two economists who worked closely with military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf and an octogenarian retired judge from Balochistan as its nominees for caretaker prime minister.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf unveiled the names in a letter he sent to the Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on behalf of the ruling coalition as Leader of the House.

Pervez Ashraf said in his letter: “As a result of our consultations I propose three names for the office of the caretaker prime minister: Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Dr Ishrat Hussain and Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso.”

He put Dr. Shaikh, who until last month was the finance minister in his cabinet, as his top choice, followed by former State Bank governor Dr Hussain and Justice Khoso, a former chief justice of the Balochistan High Court and Shariat Court and ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court.

“These persons are of known standing, integrity and competence and we can discuss and deliberate on the names put forward both by the government and the opposition at a mutually convenient time so that we can agree on a suitable person in line with constitutional obligations,” the prime minister said.

He expressed hope for an early response “so that we can put a closure to the issue and move forward to set the stage for holding general election”.

The leader of opposition had put forward the names of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (retd) Shakirullah Jan and Awami Tehrik founder Rasul Bakhsh Palijo.

DR SHAIKH: Since his resignation first as finance minister in the third week of last month and then as a PPP senator, rumours were rife that Dr. Shaikh would be one of the nominees of the coalition for caretaker prime minister.

Many believe that the PML-N will not accept him as interim chief executive of the country because of his association with Gen Musharraf and then with the outgoing PPP government.

Hailing from Jacobabad, he got higher education from the Boston University and later taught at the Harvard University. He also remained associated with the World Bank as its director of economic operations during the 1990s. After the dismissal of the Nawaz Sharif government in 1999 by Gen Musharraf, he was made a provincial minister in Sindh and later privatisation minister under former prime minister Shaukat Aziz.

He oversaw the privatisation of the KESC and PTCL. The KESC continues to be a permanent liability on the national grid and despite Dr Shaikh holding the charge of finance minister since 2010, the government has yet to recover $800 million from the PTCL management.

Controversial privatisation steered by him of the Pakistan Steel Mills was cancelled by the Supreme Court. In addition to the current state of the national economy, his failure to impose the value added tax is cited by financial experts against him.

However, according to analysts, his perceived trustworthy relationship with the IMF and World Bank and closeness to the security establishment may go in his favour.

Chaudhry Nisar, during a recent press conference, rejected his candidature.

Talking to Dawn, PML-N information secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan said it was too early to say anything about the matter and things would become clear in a day or two.

DR HUSSAIN: In comparison to Dr Shaikh, Dr Hussain, who led the State Bank from Dec 1999 to Dec 2005 under Gen Musharraf, is regarded as non-controversial and a thorough professional. A PhD in economics from the Boston University, Dr Hussain is a former civil servant. He too has had stints with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in senior positions.

Political experts argue the international community is quite concerned about the country’s economic condition and, hence, would push for somebody like him as caretaker prime minister.

Finance Minister Saleem H. Mandviwalla recently said the country might need an IMF programme in the near future.

Having worked closely with the military establishment under Gen Musharraf, he might receive much needed support from the GHQ side as well, the experts said.

Dr Hussain led the National Commission for Government Reforms for two years from May 2006, but its report was not implemented.

JUSTICE KHOSO: Born in 1929, Justice (retd) Khoso is known for his close association with the PPP.

He was appointed as a BHC judge by the PPP government in 1977 and elevated as chief justice in 1989 after the party returned to power. He retired in 1991 but was appointed a Federal Shariat Court judge in 1992.

Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was appointed as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court in 1994. But he was removed as a result of the Al Jihad Trust case in which former chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah ruled against temporary appointment of judges.

Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood of the Supreme Court, who is against the appointment of former judges in the caretaker set-up, said Justice Khoso stood no chance of getting the job in comparison with the two other nominees.

THE COUNTDOWN: Under Article 224 of the Constitution, the PM and the Leader of Opposition have three days after the dissolution of the National Assembly on Saturday to reach an agreement on the caretaker prime minister. Otherwise, under Article 224-A, both of them will forward two names each to an eight-member bipartisan parliamentary committee where both sides can also bring in more names for consultation within three days.

If the committee too fails to decide on a name, the Election Commission will select the caretaker prime minister within a couple of days.

According to government sources, a senior ANP leader may also be considered for the post in case of a deadlock.

Analysts said the PML-N was likely to try its best to complete the process in the first stage because, with the MQM sitting on opposition benches now, it can be voted out at the committee level before the case moves to the ECP.