Najam Sethi. PHOTO: ATHER KHAN/EXPRESS/FILE
Hours before the matter would have gone to the Election Commission of Pakistan for a final solution, the PML-N, after a grand review meeting finalised the name of the award winning journalist.
Former law minister Rana Sanaullah while announcing the committee's decision explained the reason for the 11th hour announcement was that they had put forward their names after due consultation with other parties. In light of the options put forward by the opposition, and the need to deliberate on the names further, the PML-N had to consult those parties again.
"This morning, the consultations were on going."
"Constitutionally we are obligated to finalise a name by midnight, hence we kept ourselves open to the candidates proposed," Sanaullah said.
"The country has been listening to his unbiased analysis on television, and we hope that he would now conduct free and fair elections."
Later, talking to the media, Najam Sethi said that this would be an experience.
“This is a temporary job. It is a time to put theory into practice.”
“I will consult chief election commissioner as policy making is not the job of caretaker government. I will tell the CEC that this is your government, whatever you order, we will comply. If our orders are not complied with, then I will come home.”
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered the parliamentary committee to hold another meeting and reach a consensus over the name of caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Express News reported on Tuesday.
Earlier during the day, the third and the final committee meeting had failed to reach a consensus and had forwarded the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, sources said that the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) was concerned that the election commission might pick a candidate presented by the PPP, so they decided to call a review meeting.
"We still have time till midnight," Shahbaz told the media.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) nominated journalist Najam Sethi, Justice (r) Zahid Hussain, while the PML-N suggested the names of Justice (r) Amir Raza Khan and Khawaja Zaheer, a former bureaucrat.
COMMENTS (59)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Wellwisher: I've never seen somebody questioning and then self answering himself. Amazing indeed...,.
The game is just begun
An excellent choice!
@Ch. Allah Daad: blessing for Lahore/Raiwind and especially PMLN.
@ Wellwisher.. so much for the pseudonym. but you need to be democratic and give respect to the mandate of the rightists.. why do you think that only non-rightists can be well wishers of Pakistan?
At least Najam Sethi is much the best person than any corrupt politician and people like Najam Sethi has to be the Chief Minister or at least Prime Minister or President......
I am a fan of Sethi and his all rounded and mostly nuetral analysis.Full marks to PMLN to agree on his name and to to PPP for proposing it in the first place.Victory for democracy.
To know thy self, just give him power; the lust of pwer indeed brings out the best out of one... indeed pretty shameful, not because he has been offered, rather coz he has accepted; and then again we are living in a lie that media has not to do much in influencing the political decisoins and the current situation(s). My country men, this is just the start; diluting the institutions roles have a lot more worse offerings
Folks, seriously wrong with the system when current journalists and retired judges, not politician, head an interim setup – thoughts?
Though a good choice his talk shows and "The Friday Times" articles will be missed by the public. And I thought the decision was that of Committee, but in this article it was said that his name was approved by PML-N. Is it the way to present the news. Hope election news would be given without bias on either side.
Najam Sethi should consult PM/Federal Government for orders instead of telling the EC that it is your government.He has exhibited dictatorial tendencies from his very first statement.
The politician is an acrobat. He keeps his balance by saying the opposite of what he does. -Maurice Barres
@Enlightened: Najam Sethi's anti Pakistan and anti Military comments in India have not been forgotten. Absolutely wrong choice, he will hurt Punjab more than anyone could have so far.
Even though the temp setup would have neither time nor powers or will to make any major decision still this is one of the best selection in the current politics. At least Najam is honest, open and not apologist for the terrorists. He is not going to be Taliban buddy like most rightwing politicians and parties.
Najam Sethi is brilliant, great decision!
Mr.Sethi is one of the few people in Pakistan who is not afraid of speaking the truth. If only Pakistan had a few dozen more of such people, all the trouble would be over. Great choice !!
I have enjoyed Apaas ki Baat does not mean I always agreed with him. He will be there perhaps for two months. his role is going to be very limited hopefully to have fair and free election. For this prime minister must stop ugly propaganda machine called ptv. Make it neutral, apolotical. just report news and donot take sides.Sethi should also make sure punjab govt machinery is not used for political ends. he can leave a mark of honesty and impartiality.If he deliberately fails this ,well wishes like me will be sorely disappointed.Then it also will be fascinating how he resumes his talk show after the election..Best of luck donot disappoint us
Apperas to have a conspitorial mind
Just look at the title of the show 'Aapus kee baat', when the country is going through sensitive times such as now, he has birdie bringing in information which has little to do with nation building and conflict resolution.
No other TV show has a title with such connotation as Sethi Saheb. Very disappointing after being an avid reader of his paper in the 90s
Respected Mr Najam Sethi,
Congratulations for having been selected for a very hot job. Though, you have a very limited time as a caretaker CM but we do expect some marks of excellence from you. Good luck and may God bless you.
congrats najam sethi! a welcome decision! hope your views and opinions would translate positively in your new role. give us something we'd really remember you positively by.
@londonistani: Mr CM hosting talk show on national tv. ……hahaha
Very funny, funny man! On the serious side, I expect that he will not be hosting the talk show.
Hamid Mir would have been a better choice.
What will muneeb farooq do for 40 odd days?
Zaid Hamid and Ahmed Quraishi just had cardiac arrest.
All their rant about technocrat caretaker and Nazam got the crown.
@A Punjabi: now what ever any one says specialy PTI fans out there Shahbaz is coming as 4th time elected CM pf punjab so be ready on 11 may to celebrate with ILZAM KHAN.
now his "chiria" will join the show.
Please restore YouTube....
Have a bad feeling about this decision....
imagine this scenario tommorrow night:
Mr CM hosting talk show on national tv. ......hahaha
Najam Sethi does not meet article 62 of the constitution? Challenge for ECP
Thanks God that they reached a consensus, now it's the Biggest test-case of Mr. Sethi's career to cope with. Looking at his journalistic record, we hope that he will deliver the best possible. In the days to come, we will see, if he is 'equipped' enough to deal with the responsibility bestowed upon him or he is merely another Ajmal Khattak, Hussain Haqqani and Mushahid Hussain. Lets pray that he don't loose his head, and do whatever with rationality and dignity.
Excellent choice. I have been watching episodes of Aapas ki baat and found his analysis devoid of any bias and logical as well. Though the post is temporary but it would surely give a great boost to other media personalities to join politics and clean the political system in Pakistan. However, he has to undergo an acid test of controlling terrorists and sectarian violence in Punjab during election time which is raising its ugly head in the state.
If Najam Sethi is the CM, it means Malik Riaz is the CM. Well done, Bahria.
So does that mean no Apass ki baat? :/
His appointment goes against the ethics of journalism, wherein journalists should not be stakeholders in the very processes that they are supposed to be covering and in the corruption that they are supposed to be unearthing, with impartiality. His appointment should be treated as sad news for journalism in Pakistan.
Not a good news.. This move has been made by both ppp and pml n to tap media support.. How can a political commentator mr sethi now express unbiased views and specially against the parties who have selected him for this interim position. He will have to oblige for sure. In my opinion, selection of people associated with media should be banned for caretaker set up as they have sources to influence public opinion.
Like PML-N had a choice given the controversial nominations it had put forward. Good job PPP.
Superb decision! Wish he would have been nominated as caretaker PM of PK. In fact he would be ideal permanent PM of PK. Congratulations NS!
Najam Sethi shouldn't have provided opportunties for terrorists to spew hatred; he gave them air-time on GeoTV and space in his Friday Times. Hardly a neutral person
Wow, big Imran hater being put in the CM slot. Definite Muk Muka!
If they select Mr najam sethi he will for sure take some aggressive actions against the extremist outfits who are openly operating in Punjab. But this dream will remain be a dream because pmln would never allow someone to crush their electoral allies.
agree on Najam sethi
Najam sethi has been chosen.
I think Hamza Nawaz wants to be the caretaker CM
If they think the caretaker system will be able to influence the election outcome then immediately they've shown lack of confidence in ECP.
Either go after ECP and bring your concerns forward or stop this tomfoolery.
Showman would have been one of the greatest actors in Pakistan.....definitely knows how to act.
The bidding must be very high for that interim post.
Whatever the outcome, each minute of Mian Sahib's in office is a blessing for Punjab.
All assemblies dissolved, all caretakers in except for CM Punjab. It's a whole parallel goverment there. And then the Sharifs say oh we never got the opportunity to rule over Pakistan!
How could you give orders to the parliamentary committee? It does not fall under you. The arrogance of Shobaz continues.
@Wellwisher: So biased!
What about PPP showing flexibility , my friend ??
Probably PML-N forgot to include Shahbaz Shareef's name into the list of suggested names!
Its not about flexibility. Its about their lust for power. Sharifs know it very well that the more they cling to it, the more it will benefit them. They cannot survive without using government resources and machinery.
People of Pakistan, beware. PML-N shows no sign of flexibility which is essential for a functioning democracy. Also its soft corner for rightist movement is not good for the country.