ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader and former Senator retired Lt General Abdul Qayyum has said that the concept of caretaker government is flawed and it should be done away with after the Feb 8 general elections.

“Hardly any country in the world has such an arrangement. Bangladesh introduced this concept and appointed a chief adviser instead of a prime minister but then abolished it in 2015 through 15th amendment in their constitution. India has also ditched the caretaker government concept,” Mr Qayyum pointed out while talking to reporters on Sunday.

He said in the 1973 Constitution, there was no such provision, but the late Gen Zia brought in an amendment in 1985 to introduce the caretaker government and the late Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi was sworn in as the first caretaker prime minister.

The main role of the caretaker government is to hold impartial, transparent, free and fair elections. “In addition, it is to be ensured that affairs of the state are run smoothly,” he said.

Retd Lt Gen Qayyum says no such provision existed in 1973 Constitution, but late Gen Ziaul Haq introduced it in 1985

The PML-N leader said that the caretaker government has no mandate to take major policy decisions and restructuring of institutions such as Federal Board of Revenue, privatisation of state-owned enterprises or any other major defence or foreign policy agreement and these should be left to an elected government which emerges after the elections.

“Generally speaking, our present caretaker government has been performing satisfactorily in tackling financial, defence and foreign policy issues. However, unfortunately, it has not been able to effectively deal with foreign-funded culprits on social media who are constantly fanning hatred against institutions,” the retired general said.

He said the caretakers have also not been able to counter allegations of not providing level-playing field to all, excessive use of state authority against some protesters and trespassing houses.

“Such allegations create a very negative perception and adversely affect the national unity,” he added

Mr Qayyum, who is also the president of ex-servicemen society, said caretaker government must promptly negate all such allegations convincingly and where state organs are found guilty, the government must own responsibility and award exemplary punishment to culprits.

Answering a question, he said countries that believe in democratic system, whether presidential or parliamentary must ensure sanctity of the ballot at all costs.

He said the ECP’s new initiative to introduce election management system on which it has so far invested Rs280 million is a step in the right direction.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024