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PTI floats two new names for caretaker CM Punjab

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News Stories Posted by ARY News Digital Team

LAHORE: As the final candidate for the caretaker chief minister of Punjab remains undecided, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Mehmoodur Rasheed said a breakthrough is expected by Sunday.

The outgoing leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly was speaking to mediapersons after a meeting with Punjab Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal at the Punjab Assembly.

He said that two new names have been presented to the government for consideration. The names include well-known columnist Orya Maqbool Jan and businessman Yaqoob Izhar, while the name of noted political analyst Hasan Askari had already been proposed.

Among the names received from the government, he said there was only one name worthy of consideration. However, he hoped that the matter will be decided will not be taken to a parliamentary committee or the Election Commission for final decision.

Rasheed is expected to meet outgoing Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday where the final decision for the interim setup is expected to be made. This is the fourth meeting between the leaders of opposition and the government. Rasheed hoped that a consensus will be developed in the upcoming couple of days.

When asked about the absence of Shahbaz Sharif and his meeting with the Speaker, Rasheed said that it was the constitutional responsibility of the chief minister to meet the opposition. “I have no interest in meeting the chief minister. It is his constitutional and legal responsibility to meet me (as opposition leader) to decide the interim setup,” he said.

He said that the names proposed earlier were also provided through consensus, but there were serious reservations and had to be withdrawn. He said that a hue and cry was raised after the withdrawal which is rather unnecessary. He expressed hope that the caretaker chief minister will be decided soon.

It may be mentioned here that the name of former bureaucrat Nasir Mehmood Khosa was agreed as caretaker CM Punjab. However, the PTI withdraw its support after reservations within the party as Khosa had served as chief secretary of Punjab under Shehbaz Sharif.

Amidst the controversy, Khosa recused himself from the coveted post. The PTI later suggested the name of retired policeman Nasir Durrani, who served as Inspector-General Khyber Pakthunkhwa, but Durrani excused himself from the position.

Orya Maqbool’s replaced by Ayaz Amir

Just moments after making the announcement, PTI made an about-turn on Orya Maqbool’s name from consideration. PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry issued an statement about the proposed three names.

The notable omission was Orya Maqbool Jan who was replaced by columnist and politician Ayaz Amir. The name of Yaqoob Izhar and Hasan Askari were among the list.

Ayaz Amir has remained a formed member of the National Assembly in the 2008 elections from Chakwal. He resigned from the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) in 2013.

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