Pakistani Interim Prime Minister Considers Constitutional Amendments Bill

Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi floated the idea of introducing amendments to the Article 62 of the country's constitution, which served as a basis for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's ouster from the office over a corruption scandal, local media reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On August 1, the National Assembly of Pakistan supported the appointment of Abbasi, who served as the minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, as the country's interim prime minister. The new prime minister will be holding the post temporally until Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of the former prime minister, whom he chose to succeed the position, is elected in parliamentary by-election.

According to the Geo TV broadcaster, Abbassi said that his government would consult with opposition parties on drafting a bill to make amendments to Article 62 of the constitution, which required all the public representatives, including the prime minister, to be truthful and honest.

Abbassi also said in the interview that the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would make a decision whether his office term would last for 45 days, as planned initially, or longer.

In late July, the Pakistani Supreme Court decided to remove Sharif following corruption investigation into his family under the Article 62 of the constitution. The investigation was launched after Panama Papers leak revealed in April 2016 that Sharif's two sons and a daughter owned at least three offshore companies registered on the British Virgin Islands.