As the government’s three picks for interim prime minister were revealed, the race seemed to spread out gradually. The final six represent a wide spectrum of candidates in the run-up to the caretaker office, ranging from economists to legal experts to nationalists. 

Government nominees

Hafeez Shaikh – a bipartisan choice?

An economist of international repute, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, 58, is a popular pick on the government’s list of three nominees for caretaker prime minister as assemblies roll back on March 16 making way for an interim setup. Born in 1955, Shaikh holds a PhD in economics from Boston University.

Having worked at Harvard Institute of Development and assumed key offices at the World Bank, Shaikh has 30 years of elaborate experience under his belt in areas of economic policymaking, management and implementation. During General Pervez Musharraf’s era, Shaikh assumed offices in both the Sindh and federal governments.

After General Musharraf declared himself President, Shaikh was appointed Minister for Finance, Planning and Development for Sindh. Sporting a successful tenure from 2000-2002, Shaikh is esteemed to be the architect of Sindh’s financial recovery. He has been elected as Senator thrice. Shaikh’s three years as the Federal Minister for Privatisation and Investment were considered most successful in Pakistan’s history.

His last assignment in the present government was as the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Planning and Development. Though Shaikh remained finance minister between 2010 and 2013, he was unsuccessful in steering the economy out of crisis.

Due to this, he has been bitterly criticised by the Opposition. However, his association with Opposition Leader in the Senate, Ishaq Dar, is said to be one of the reasons, along with the military establishment’s backing, that compelled the key opposition to support him for the prestigious post.