PTI takes U-turn on interim Punjab CM, PML-N digs in heels

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  • Opp leader says Nasir Khosa’s name withdrawn after public perception about his closeness to Nawaz Sharif
  • Shehbaz Sharif says Khosa’s name can’t be withdrawn as summary for appointment has already been sent to Punjab governor
  • Nomination of interim CMs in KP, Sindh and Balochistan also in limbo

LAHORE: After much ado about the nomination of new caretaker prime minister between the government and opposition, a deadlock still persists on the nomination of caretaker chief ministers of all provinces, including Punjab, after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took a U-turn from its earlier position on Wednesday.

The PTI backtracked even though a consensus was reached between the Punjab government and opposition on Monday when both sides agreed –on PTI’s insistence—to appoint former top bureaucrat Nasir Saeed Khosa to head the provincial set up till the formation of a new government. However, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has dug in his heels, saying the constitutional requirement in this regard has been fulfilled and a summary seeking the notification of Khosa as the interim chief minister had already been sent to the Punjab governor.

“The summary cannot be withdrawn now as Khosa’s name was agreed upon after detailed deliberations,” Shehbaz said in a statement.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said the decision [to withdraw Khosa’s name] was made during a core committee meeting of the party chaired by Imran Khan.

“We made a mistake by suggesting the name in haste,” he clarified, adding that a new name will be forwarded to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif “within a matter of few hours”.

Justifying the move, he said that the party had to withdraw Khosa’s candidacy after a public perception was created that Khosa was a close colleague of PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] supremo Nawaz Sharif. There was discussion on this not only within the party but also among the general public, stated the opposition leader.

“After discussions, the party has withdrawn the name given earlier. The new name which will be decided after consulting the PTI chairman and party leaders will be sent to the chief minister,” Rasheed said.

PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry justified the step, saying that “the public opinion was not in favour of the said candidate”. He also termed Khosa a “controversial candidate” but in the same breath called him an “honourable person”.

Later in the evening, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi and Mehmoodur Rasheed agreed on the name of former bureaucrat Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa for the post of the interim CM.

SANA, MARRIYUM TERM IT ‘JOKE, U-TURN’:

Reacting to the PTI’s withdrawal of the nominee, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said, “The government will not take back the nomination of Khosa as there is no space to take back his name.”

He said the decision to nominate Nasir Saeed Khosa as caretaker CM was taken after thorough consultation with the PTI, while calling the party’s decision a “joke”. Sana asserted that no further dialogue can be held on the issue in the light of constitution.

Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb slammed the PTI, saying this decision is another “U-turn” for the party. “You have greatly damaged the country through your politics of U-turns, haste, and instigation,” declared Aurangzeb.

PPP SLAMS PTI:

Reprimanding the PTI, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the PTI’s seriousness could be judged from its inability to stand by its decision on the caretaker chief minister candidate.

“These people [PTI leaders] claim they will make a new Pakistan, what kind of changes will they bring?” questioned the PPP lawmaker.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA:

Being no stranger to U-turns, the PTI has already withdrawn its nominee for interim CM, Manzoor Afridi. It was forced to retract its candidate after a strong backlash from the opposition parties in the province, who had called out Afridi’s ties with the PTI leadership.

After the withdrawal, meetings between the Pervez Khattak-led provincial government and opposition has remained an exercise in futility.

SINDH:

Meanwhile in Sindh, the issue of caretaker CM continues to haunt the Sindh government in spite of the assembly completing its term on Monday.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan has already hinted at an intervention from the ECP after his meeting with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah couldn’t materialise on Tuesday.

According to reports, the PPP is standing for the nomination of former chief secretary Ghulam Ali Shah Pasha and senior party leader Dr Qayoom Soomro to be appointed for the position.

BALOCHISTAN:

Likewise, the issue of the nomination of the CM in Balochistan is left hanging in the air. The last three meetings between Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Opposition Leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal bore no result.

However, a meeting between the two was scheduled to be held late on Wednesday to reach a consensus on the name of the caretaker CM.

According to media reports, Ziaratwal wants Ashraf Jahangir for the post of caretaker chief minister besides demanding a large share in the caretaker cabinet.

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