Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif while addressing a press conference in Lahore. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said, “Our party (PML-N) would like to hold elections in the entire country on the same day and for that there were few requirements that I candidly conveyed to the Prime Minister.”
He mentioned the issues discussed during his one-on-one meeting with the premier.
Deadlock on interim premier
Shahbaz criticised the government for planning with its coalition partners in Sindh and Balochistan to orchestrate a scenario where friendly caretaker set-ups can be brought in.
"Those people should be named for the interim prime minister, who are honest and well-respected," Sharif said.
The Punjab chief minister further added that when nominating the caretaker prime minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties should be consulted and a decision should be taken after consensus is reached.
“We have offered to the PPP that if they have better names than our nominees, on whom all stakeholders agree, then we are ready to consider them,” Shahbaz said.
"I advise the PPP government not to bring such people in for the interim set-up because of which the people stop trusting the election."
He added that the upcoming elections are not routine elections, "these polls will be make or break for Pakistan."
Of Balochistan, Shahbaz urged that the PML-N and the nationalist parties should be consulted before naming the interim government, otherwise the estranged nationalists will be pushed to the wall.
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1726722687-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(9)1726722687-0-270x192.webp "standard medical treatment is villagers right cm")
Of course Mian sahib is playing hard ball to get nuetral Govts in all 5 places because he thinks under nuertal set up they will do better everywhere. And all elections can be held on the same day even if Punjab govt goes another few weeks .What is the problem here.Eveybody is playing against PMLN including PPP, MTI, MQM, PMLQ , APML so why PMLN shopuld nt use its full mandate like others are doing . I wish PTI and kids had shown some maturity and bold ness and fought for whole of Pakistan instaed of focuing on PMLN only.They togtyher with Musharraf and Tahir mullah Iam afaraid will cause PPP to win.I guess they are OK with that as long as PMLN looses, the rest is no problem. What a shame.
Tenure of punjab government will end on 9 April 2013 not 19 march (like federal government) PTI kids here should know the facts.
@Ch. Allah Daad: You are well known for blindly following PML(N) just like another called Blithe. Unfortunately, such people are in majority in this country and it is due to this myopia that same people gets re-elected again and again. You either vote same parties because your forefathers used to be their supporter or because you do not see what issues Pakistan as country & we as a society are facing.
I can bet that you have not visited any other provinces but are out to say Punjab govt is successful but others are not ... You measure success by completion of road projects? KPK has done many roadworks as well .. making bullet trains, underground stations, airports or high rise buildings are not our problems .. neither that makes a country developed otherwise all Gulf states will be counted as developed countries. They take years to develop but gets demolished within minutes .. Our problems are population control, Security/border control, education & tax system overhaul, expatriation of refugees etc.
They are just another province like other three provinces thus have no right to decide future of the whole country ... therefore, every one should support creation of smaller provinces in Punjab to eliminate their role as bully and imbalance that always gets to decide all matters by its own including foreign and internal policies e.g 1971 situation, relationship with Indian and FATA situation.
We punjabis are proud of our chief minister Shahbaz sharif as he has done a lot of tangible work all over punjab. I want him to remain chief minister of punjab for ever. There are only two leaders in pakistan at the moment and they are Mian Mohammad Nawaz sharif and Mian Mohammad Shahbaz sharif, the rest are just dummies.
CM of Lahore only
@Ch. Allah Daad: Are u kidding ??? successful projects or wastage of resources ?? Give me a break ....
Purpose of my suggestion was to balance things out. Until elections are held in other provinces and at federal level, Punjab government should contiue to keep check on the situation. The Federal government and three provincial governments have failed completely, therefore elections in those parts of the country are must. Punjab government has been very successful, so it can contiue for time being.
Clever politics at its height.. PML-N wants some say in Balochistan and Sindh, where its presence is missing.. It is discredit to both the ruling parties that they are unable to show little consensus on the issue of caretaker government. Paradoxially both parties claim to have served the domeocracy without setting healthy democratic traditions. Punjab remained under accusations of breeding ground extremism, alledged partonage of banned outfits by Punjab Law Minister was interesting episode. Wise men have said "There is no smoke without a fire."
:)) Congrats to all Pakistanis on successful completion of Five Years Democratic Govt.. :))
People of Punjab gave mandate to current Punjab government for 5 years and its tenure is not yet completed. The main reason is because General Musharraf delayed the session to the maximum to make PPP+PMLQ coalition in Punjab, which he could not.
In India, every state has elections on separate date and constitutionally there is no issue of having elections on different dates.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Are u Kidding?? No! I mean seriously?
PMLN will try it max to extend the tenure of Punjab Assembly, so that it can control Media, Police & Public on 23rd March, but I tell you, PMLN cant stop Tsunami on 23rd March in Minar e Pakistan.
No one is above the laws.
Mian Sahib cannot hold Punjab Government even one more minute from the time of its dissolution according to the prescribed period under the law.
What a shame...The supremacy of Punjab has brought the nation to this edge of distraction...Punjab needs to back-off and try work with other parts of the nation. These corrupt feudals have caused so much anarchy and distruction to the land of pure, I do not believe it can be recovered by the same looters and partners in corruption....I am not sure why people stop thinking about 2 yards they all have to go and be answerable to the almighty...
If the people select them again..than I have not hope, but the Wrath of almighty might struck us badly...These models of corrupt governance needs to go and we need try our own system if Government "Khilafaat" and work for it to make it strengthened...
Pakistan Zindabad...
@Ch. Allah Daad: Not sure if delusional or just plain dishonest.
@Ch. Allah Dad: Then what is the requirement of ECP and Federal government for that matter if Punjab government is to done all of that things by itself? By following your logic we must allow federal government to function until the completion of IP gas pipeline too.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Brother, the sad part is that if there were no elections, these so called development projects wouldn't have been there in the first place.
Mian Sahib is doing a great job and without any hesitation people of punjab will elect him for another term, therefore holding elections for Punjab assembly would not make any difference. To complete unfinished projects in Punjab and to keep an eye on interim government and election commission, Punjab assembly should extend its tenure for atleast one more year.