Contrary to statements by the federal government, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that he did not agree to dissolve the Punjab Assembly on March 19. Addressing a press conference here, he said, “Our party (PML-N) would like to hold elections in the entire country on the same day and for that there were a few requirements that I candidly conveyed to the prime minister”. Shahbaz criticised the government for planning, with backing from coalition partners in Sindh and Balochistan, to orchestrate a scenario where friendly caretaker set-ups can be brought in. “People who are honest and well-respected should be named for the interim prime minister,” Sharif said. The Punjab CM said when nominating people for caretaker prime minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties should be consulted and a decision should be taken only after consensus is reached. “We have offered the PPP to come up with better names than our nominees, if they have any. If all stakeholders agree, we are ready to consider them,” Sharif said. “I advise the PPP government not to bring such people in the interim set-up which results in people distrusting the election”. The upcoming elections, he said, are not routine elections, “these polls will make or break Pakistan”. On Balochistan, Sharif said the PML-N and nationalist parties should be consulted before naming the interim government, otherwise the estranged nationalists will be pushed to the wall.
