Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that name of the caretaker prime minister would be finalised within a week, reiterating that assemblies would be dissolved one or two days before the completion of their tenure.

“I have not received any offer regarding caretaker prime minister,” he said in an interview with Hum News. “Ishaq Dar never gave his name for the caretaker prime minister.”

His comments came as the allied parties in the ruling alliance meet for suggesting names for the top slot. After this, the prime minister will speak to the opposition leader in the National Assembly.

He stressed the need not to repeat past mistakes otherwise the country would continue to experience the same situation.

The defence minister called for working together in order to come out of the prevailing situation.

Asif added that the PPP and the PML-N have discussed four to five names for the top slot which would be discussed with other coalition partners.

He claimed that the PPP and the PML-N names were final. Moreover, Asif expressed the party’s willingness to work with the Sindh-ruling party for the next five years.

He was “still wary” of PPP, claiming that it has twice hurt him. Asif called for immediate elections as it would help in resolving issues.