Ahsan Iqbal. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday formed a task force to take all political parties of the country into confidence over PML-N’s proposed names for the president’s slot.
The task force comprises party leaders such as Khawaja Asif‚ Chaudhry Nisar‚ Shahbaz Sharif‚ Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafique. The committee is to initiate contacts with the heads of political parties shortly, informed Khawaja Saad Rafique.
A meeting of PML-N leaders was held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair to review candidates’ names.
Sources informed The Express Tribune that the prime minister deemed a unanimous decision crucial for picking a president. “The 2013 polls have sent a positive vibe across the world – by electing a unanimous president this time, we can prove the unity of parliamentarians,” the sources quoted the PM as telling the meeting.
While recalling PML-N’s support in electing Yousaf Raza Gilani as the prime minister and Fehmida Mirza as speaker of the National Assembly with a majority back in 2008, the premier added that a similar “positive gesture is being expected by the PML-N this time round.”
According to sources, the names of Sartaj Aziz‚ Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui‚ Mamnoon Hussain‚ Ghous Ali Shah‚ Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Mehtab Abbassi have been shortlisted in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.
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Sartaj Aziz is sensible and eloquent as compare to other shortlisted crew...and holds better understanding on foreign policy too.
In my opinion, there is no comparison between Sartaj Aziz and Dr. Qadeer when it comes to service to this nation, wisdom, ethics and neutrality, it has to be Dr. Qadeer. Ehtzaz, Reza Rabbani, Malik, all served Zardari, Gilani and Raja and what they did to us all. Mr. Attorney stop suggesting names as you are lost in the mind of Pakistani people
There was a suggestion of nominating Uzair Jan Baluch for the top slot, is that still under consideration
I dont see anyone in PML N worthy for Presidential seat. Zardari is STILL better than any of them.
Do whatever you like, but, please, please spare us another octogenarian innocence. We've just barely survived the havocs inflicted by couple of senile old man who we put in demanding position. Let's be realistic and exclude folks like this good, but very very old man, Mr Sartaj Aziz from the top slot and find someone from the list of those who can still function as the job requires.
PML-N supported PM Gillani's election as PM because they were included in the cabinet and a partner in the govt at that time. Now there is no such agreement between the two parties so expecting PPP to support PML candidate is not fair. In fact in this presidential election PPP still has a lot more votes than PML-N had in the last election. If PPP and ANP were not wiped out by the terrorist threats in the KPK and Baluchistan they would still be winning the presidential election.