Shahbaz, Raisani in bargaining mode over simultaneous dissolution

Though Prime Minister (PM) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and the four chief ministers agreed in principle on holding general elections on the same day across the country, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani attached strings to the federal government’s demand of dissolution of assemblies on the same day – March 19 – and said the PPP would have to yield to their demands for this support.
“The focus has actually shifted from appointment of caretaker prime minister to caretaker chief ministers as both the PPP and PML-N want people of their choice to be appointed as chief ministers in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan,” a source privy to details of the meeting told Pakistan Today. Per schedule, the Punjab Assembly’s term would complete on April 9, Balochistan Assembly’s term would expire on April 5 while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly’s term would end on March 27. However, the federal government wants to dissolve the four provincial assemblies and the national assembly simultaneously on March 19.
The source said Raisani also took a “u-turn” during the meeting with the PM and said all his demands should be implemented before dissolution of Balochistan Assembly.
“Raisani wanted appointment of his henchman as Balochistan chief secretary and had other demands relating to the FC and other law enforcing agencies to get his close aides of the hook,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the name of Abdul Hafeez Shaikh is still in the race for the slot of caretaker PM, adding that there was still possibility of both sides proposing new candidates for the key position.
Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah, KP CM Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Balochistan Governor Nawab Zufiqar Magsi and CM Nawab Aslam Raisani met Ashraf at the PM’s House and discussed matters relating to the forthcoming general elections in the country.
“As proposed by the prime minister, the chief ministers agreed in principle that elections of national and provincial assemblies will be held in the country on the same day for logistical, administrative, and financial reasons, which would also promote political harmony in the country,” said an official statement.
However, a source privy to details of the meeting said Sharif asked Ashraf to review nominations made by the PML-N and its allies for the slots of caretaker prime minister and Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan chief ministers.
“Shahbaz Sharif assured the PM that he would respond to his proposal in affirmative after consultation with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. He also asked the premier to consult President Asif Zardari on PML-N’s demands if they wanted dissolution of the Punjab Assembly before time,” the source added.
The source further said the PPP leadership was ready to appoint PML-N’s nominee, Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid, as caretaker premier despite its own aspirations. However, the source added, the PPP leadership wanted its own nominee to be appointed as caretaker CM in Punjab which was unacceptable for Shahbaz.