Govt, opposition fails to agree on caretaker CM Punjab

• ECP will nominate caretaker Chief Minister Punjab
• Parliamentary committee fails to reach a decision
• Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan has received four names

LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will decide on the nomination of the caretaker chief minister of Punjab after the parliamentary committee failed to resolve the issue.

The parliamentary committee held a meeting on Friday to discuss the names but failed to reach a consensus on the nomination of the caretaker chief minister in the province.

Former provincial minister Raja Basharat, who was a committee member, said they could not reach a consensus on the nomination of the chief minister. Subsequently, he said the matter will not be decided by the election commission.

Speaking to media, Raja Basharat said that the opposition members did not agree on their nominations and were bent on two names. He said decisions should be made that are acceptable to the masses.

He said that they will approach the courts if any controversial figure is chosen to become the caretaker CM. He went on to say that it has been decided that the names proposed by both parties will now be sent to the election commission.

Former minister Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Hashim Jawan Bakht represented the ruling alliance, while the opposition was represented by Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Hassan Murtaza and Malik Nadeem Kamran.

Earlier today, Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan confirmed that he has received four names from the government and the opposition for the caretaker CM slot.

He urged both sides to reach a consensus on the name of the caretaker Punjab chief minister, saying the matter can be resolved within minutes.  The speaker said he will send the names to the election commission if no decision is reached by Friday evening.

The speaker said the Punjab Assembly has notified the names of the caretaker chief minister which cannot be changed.

Following the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, the government and opposition had expedited consultations for a caretaker set-up in the province. The issue of the nomination of caretaker chief minister will be forwarded to the election commission for final decision.

The outgoing government o the PML-Q and PTI alliance has nominated former bureaucrats Ahmed Nawaz Sukhira and Naveed Akram Cheema for the post. The opposition has recommended the names of Ahad Cheema and Mohsin Raza Naqvi for the slot.

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