–PML-N’s nominees include ex-Punjab IG Tariq Dogar, ex-IB chief Aftab Sultan, ex-judge Sahir Ali and ex-navy chief Zakaullah
–Aftab Sultan excuses himself from nomination, as Shehbaz says he hopes to reach consensus with PTI in the first meeting
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday proposed four names for the caretaker Punjab chief minister in an attempt to end the deadlock with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the constitutional requirement.
Former IG Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar, former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director General Aftab Sultan, Justice (r) Sahir Ali and former Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah were the four names suggested by Shehbaz Sharif after consultation with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif during a meeting of the party leaders in Lahore.
However, Aftab Sultan excused himself from the nomination, according to media reports.
“The names proposed will be forwarded to the PTI,” said the Punjab chief minister.
“PTI should consider our names and we will consider theirs, who knows may be we reach a consensus in the first meeting,” Shehbaz added.
Former leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed and Shehbaz Sharif are expected to meet within the next two days to discuss the matter. If the two leaders fail to reach a consensus then a parliamentary committee would be formulated to make the decision on caretaker chief minister.
“PTI has proposed three names to be appointed as Caretaker Punjab CM. 1)Hassan Askari 2) Ayaz Amir 3) Yaqub Izhar… agreement on one name is expected by tomorrow evening,” announced PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry on twitter after Rasheed suggested the names of Orya Maqbool Jan, Yaqub Izhar, and Hassan Askari, leading to confusion over PTI’s position on the matter.
Earlier, PTI withdrew the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa as Punjab interim CM after agreeing on the same.
Shehbaz Sharif and Mehmoodur Rasheed, in a joint press conference a few days ago, announced the name of Nasir Khosa after consensus. Later, however, PTI retracted from its own stance and withdrew Khosa’s name saying that the party was facing a public backlash over the nominee.
“We have withdrawn the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa over public backlash and criticism from a section of media,” PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry had said.
PTI had proposed Khosa’s name but retracted its decision citing the former top bureaucrat’s closeness with deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif. But Shehbaz Sharif refused to withdraw Khosa’s name, saying he had already forwarded a summary for his notification as caretaker CM to the Punjab governor.
However, “disheartened” by the PTI’s attitude, Khosa excused himself from heading the caretaker setup. He regretted that by supporting, then retracting his name, the PTI had turned him into “a controversial figure in the media”.
Following the withdrawal of Nasir Khosa’s name, the Imran Khan-led PTI nominated names of Professor Hassan Askari and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Nasir Durrani. However, Durrani too excused himself from the post.
It is pertinent to mention here that PTI chief Imran Khan had also rejected Manzoor Afridi’s nomination for caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only hours before the deadline on Monday. His name was allegedly withdrawn for being an outcome of a deal between the chief minister and opposition leader in the KP Assembly.