Former ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani emerged as the strongest candidate for the caretaker prime minister position on Wednesday all of a sudden. His name was not among nearly a dozen names beings discussed in the media, but now everyone is discussing him. But reports suggest that the decision was made weeks ago.

Jilani was nominated by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Faisal Karim Kundi, a senior party leader confirmed Wednesday night.

“I have not been part of that committee [made to discuss interim PM names] but I have heard through media. The PPP may have given Jalil Abbas Jilani’s name, but I cannot endorse other names,” he said in an interview with Geo News on Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’s show on Wednesday.

In another report the news outlet, while quoting sources, claimed that Jilani and former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani were two names put forward by the Sindh-ruling party for the key post.

Jilani’s name became the buzzword in Pakistani politics after a social media post from ex-diplomat Abdul Basit. The claim was confirmed by Aaj News sources in Islamabad saying that Jilani was a strong contender for the caretaker prime minister position. They also revealed that he had arrived at the PM’s House Wednesday afternoon.

Basit congratulated him on his appointment as the interim PM and hailed it as a “proud moment for the foreign office”.

Kundi stressed that a political personality should be a caretaker prime minister, wondering that has ever a politician was posted as secretary or judge.

But the host countered him with the developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where a politician was not appointed as the caretaker prime minister. The political parties trade barbs over the number of ministers in the government, of which the Election Commission of Pakistan later took notice. He wondered if the parties would fight over the ministries if ECP takes notice or not.

The PPP leader ruled such impressions. While speaking on the KP, he said that the caretaker chief minister was apolitical.

When asked PPP suggested Jilani’s name despite not being a politician, Kundi replied that any nominee for the caretaker prime minister would have links with any politician. “Now his [Jilani] name is circulating [in the media] that he is [PPP leader] Yousaf Raza Gilani’s relative. I think being a relative, or having contacts, or having a friendship with anyone is not a negative point.”

He spoke about having a competent person for the slot. The PPP wanted a “strong prime minister” who can organise free and fair elections with the ECP.

Journalist Mariana Baabar in a social media post claimed that former Dawn editor Abbas Nasir was the first person who got the whiff of Jilani’s appointment. But he was waiting for confirmation.

She claimed that the former ambassador to the US was contacted more than two weeks ago. He agreed then waited, Mariana said and added: “Last night he was told to accept call.Someone1/”

The fact that Jilani was never discussed in the media shows that the ruling parties kept their cards close to the chest and largely avoided any leakage from the Prime Minister’s House. News outlets discussed around ten names during the past few weeks.

Aaj News Islamabad Bureau Chief Tariq Chaudhry said Jilani was involved with multiple think tanks in Islamabad and played a key ‘behind-the-scene’ role in the country’s policymaking.

Sources told Aaj News earlier this month that names of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar, former Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad, former principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad, Justice (retd) Shakeel Baloch, and Aslam Bhootani were considered for the slot.

But former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal was offered the post, his close associates had confirmed to Aaj News.

Following the development, sources had said that former judge of Supreme Court Khalilur Ramday, Dar, Abbasi, and ex-Sindh governor Muhammad Mian Soomro was considered to be strong contenders for the post.

Former PTI leader Imran Ismail had claimed that Hafeez Shaikh was also among the nominees for being popular among the IMF and other financial institutions.