Pakistan deadlocks over caretaker PM

Pakistan is set to break a deadlock over nomination of caretaker Prime Minister who will supervise parliamentary elections, the presidential spokesman said Saturday. The caretaker Prime Minister will be installed as the national assembly is to be dissolved later on Saturday after having completed five-year constitutional term. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and the main opposition party have so far failed to reach consensus on the nomination. The government and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML-M) have withdrawn one name each from their lists and now four candidates are being considered including two former judges of the supreme court, a senior politician and a former head of the state bank. The presidential spokesman, senator Farhatullah Babar, said that the deadlock will be removed and a consensus man will take over as the caretaker Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has invited chief ministers of four provinces for consultation on the elections. Babar told the media that Prime Minister Ashraf is likely to announce a consensus name in his televised speech.