ECP to decide Balochistan, Punjab interim chief ministers

'Hassan Askari was the only neutral candidate, but the government refused'

QUETTA/ LAHORE: The matter of nominating caretaker chief ministers for Punjab and Balochistan on Wednesday landed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as parliamentary committees in both provinces failed to reach a consensus.

In Lahore, the ECP is scheduled to meet today (Thursday) to select caretaker chief minister for Punjab.

The commission has two days to decide on the names once it receives the nominees from the parliamentary panel. In case a decision cannot be arrived at in Thursday’s meeting, the commission will meet again on Friday to finalise the names.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had nominated Admiral (retd) Mohammad Zakaullah and Justice (retd) Mohammad Sair Ali, whereas the then Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rasheed had proposed Prof Hasan Askari Rizvi and Ayaz Amir for the post.

The same four names will now be sent to the ECP which will choose one man from among them to become the caretaker chief minister of Punjab.



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Former speaker of the Punjab Assembly Rana Iqbal Khan had constituted the committee that included former provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah, former health minister Khawaja Imran Nazeer and former adviser on information and culture Malik Mohammad Ahmad Khan from the government side.

The opposition side was represented by former opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, former MPA Sibtain Khan and Shoaib Siddiqui.

In Balochistan, the former provincial government had suggested the names of Sardar Shoukat Popalzai and Alauddin Marri for the post of caretaker chief minister while the former opposition had nominated Mohammad Aslam Bhutani and Ashraf Jahangir Qazi.

After the two sides failed to reach a consensus, the matter landed with the parliamentary committee of Balochistan. However, the government-nominated members boycotted the parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday after former prime minister Abdul Qudus Bizenjo had described the incumbent opposition leader as controversial.

Former chief ministers Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri as well as Syed Agha Liaquat reached the Assembly Secretariat for talks, but the other side did not show up and the meeting could not be held.

“We are acting in line with the Constitution, but the former government is creating hurdles,” said Zehri. “Bizenjo wants amendments to the Constitution to make way for him to become chief minister for life… Balochistan will not entertain any more jokes.”



He said Bizenjo’s decision to boycott the meeting showed their non-seriousness towards a serious issues. “We have, therefore, decided to send our shortlisted names to the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he announced.

Lamenting the boycott, Dr Malik said, “We could have convinced each other over a unanimous name but Bizenjo and his members have shown contempt towards the democratic process by boycotting the meeting.”

Meanwhile, the ECP in separate letters to chief secretaries of the provinces have sought details of secretaries, commissioners, DPOs and other senior officials. It has already imposed a ban on posting and transfers of government officials till the elections process is over.

The ECP has also called a meeting of relevant officials to review security arrangements for the general elections. It has issued a 14-point code of conduct for foreign election observers.