Nawaz, Shehbaz fail to forge consensus

Name proposed by opposition termed ‘wise’ by PML-N insiders

LAHORE: The matter of nominating the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab might be referred to the parliamentary committee, a source privy to the development disclosed as the government remains indecisive on picking a suitable candidate for the post.

It was further revealed that a meeting was held between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, also the president of PML-N, to discuss the caretaker setup. The source said that no consensus was achieved between the two and that another meeting was expected between the CM, provincial law minister Rana Sana Ullah and Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal on Monday to further discuss probable candidates.



Moreover, he also claimed that if the government doesn’t arrive at a consensus by Monday, the matter will then be left for a parliamentary board to decide.

“Both sides have conveyed their proposed names to each other and after meeting party leaders, Shehbaz is expected to hold talks with opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rashid over the interim setup”, the source said adding that it is speculated that the situation would become clear by Tuesday.

However, he refused to divulge any names being considered for the position and also denied Rashid’s claim of shortlisting any candidate for the caretaker’s spot.

If a mutually-agreed name is not finalised within three days of dissolution of the assembly then the matter shall be forwarded to the parliamentary committee. The panel would comprise a total of six lawmakers, three each from the treasury and opposition sides, nominated by the CM and opposition leader respectively.  Moreover, if the parliamentary committee also fails to agree on a name then the same list would be forwarded to the ECP.



Names doing the rounds

According to sources, two names given by the government are said to be of former IG Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar, who is also said to be Shehbaz’s pick, and Justice (retd) Sahir Ali, being Sharif’s pick whereas the opposition leader as per sources has put forward names of former Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Rasool and former Chief Secretary Punjab & Balochistan Nasir Mehmood Khosa along with Gohar Ejaz.

Multiple PML-N sources have termed former Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Rasool, a name proposed by opposition, a wise choice for the post. However, the party remains tight-lipped on the matter.