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.

“No one can perform the duties of the prime minster in his absence,” chief of the Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party said in a press conference in Islamabad.

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”.

Related: Iftikhar Chaudhry launches his party

The former CJP said no notification was passed empowering Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to perform duties of the chief executive in absence of Nawaz.

“Any notification by the government regarding delegating powers of the prime minster to a minister will be unconstitutional as there is no such provision in the Constitution of the country,” Chaudhry maintained.

Electing an interim prime minster is the government’s only solution, he opined, adding that any other course of action would be a ‘violating of the constitution’.

“Any other member of the National Assembly from the ruling party can be made prime minster by a simple majority and no constitutional amendment is required in this regard,” Chaudhry pointed out.

Also Read: PM’s resignation to strengthen democracy, says Iftikhar

‘Nawaz running affairs from London’

On the other hand, a statement issued from the PM’s office said Nawaz Sharif is “supervising all matters related to the country from London”, assisted by his principal secretary, military secretary and other staff.

The statement, however, goes on to add that “it is natural and understandable that the premier will not be performing his duties during his operation” but soon after the surgery, he will be supervising the state's affairs “with the same spirit and energy”.

It further says that the premier’s family will bear all expenditure incurred on his treatment.

Opinion

Editorial

Consolidating gains
Updated 15 Jul, 2025

Consolidating gains

It would not be incorrect to say that the economy is still just a shock away from relapsing into another crisis.
Second thoughts
15 Jul, 2025

Second thoughts

AND, just like that, the PTI’s ill-timed ‘Second Pakistan Movement’ seems to have been put to rest. The...
Wounded women
15 Jul, 2025

Wounded women

MORALITY is a woman’s burden to bear, and the chilling upsurge in gender-based crimes is a reminder of how...
Tax unrest
Updated 14 Jul, 2025

Tax unrest

Govt has a very poor track record of staying the course of tough decisions that affect the ruling party’s core political base.
Surging numbers
14 Jul, 2025

Surging numbers

PAKISTAN is running out of time — and space. Our population, now over 240m, continues to grow at nearly 2pc a ...
Media matters
14 Jul, 2025

Media matters

PAKISTAN’s journalists are no strangers to living dangerously. The Freedom Network’s new report, Journalism in...