PML-N rejects ECP decision as controversy over Punjab interim CM continues

ECP rejects PML-N's objection over Hassan Askari as Punjab caretaker CM

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The issue of caretaker chief minister of Punjab ballooned into a controversy on Thursday when the former ruling party, the PML-N, voiced serious reservations over the nomination of political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Speaking to the media, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who belongs to the PML-N, said Dr Askari was an ardent critic of the PML-N. Dr Askari’s partiality is evident from the views he expresses in the media.

“The ECP decision has cast doubts over the transparency of the upcoming general elections in Punjab. The PML-N will reject the election results if he is made caretaker chief executive of the province.”



Flanked by other PML-N stalwarts, including Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Khurram Dastgir, Rana Sanaullah, Abbasi flashed a newspaper article, titled “Election challenges and disputes in democracy” penned by Dr Askari in January 2013. “He has justified 90-day martial law in his article,” said the former premier.

The ECP, however, dismissed the PML-N reservations. A spokesperson for the top poll supervisory body said the ECP took the decision only after the political parties had failed to reach consensus on a name.

“The [ECP] decision is in accordance with the Constitution,” he added. “Undue criticism of the ECP is unjustified as its takes all its decisions based on merit.”

The spokesperson said the real question was if the polls would be transparent. “We will go to any length to make sure the elections are not controversial.”

Earlier, addressing the presser, Ahsan Iqbal said that during the PML-N reign the multibillion-dollar CPEC was rolled out and peace restored in Karachi.

While the former minister for railways, Saad Rafique, said that Dr Askari was a renowned educationist but the PML-N was opposed to his political and democratic views. “He’s inclined towards the PTI which is manifest in his articles,” he said. “He should step down from his post as he’s not impartial,” he added.