• PTI has objected to nominations by the opposition
• It had sent detailed evidence to the ECP
• Opposition has nominated Ahad Cheema and Mohsin Raza Naqvi

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has raised objection over the nominations by the opposition regarding the appointment of the caretaker chief minister of Punjab.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will decide on the appointment of the interim setup after the parliamentary committee, comprising of the government and opposition, failed to reach a consensus.

However, the PTI has raised objections over the names nominated by the opposition and sent detailed evidence and documents to the Chief Election Commissioner, calling him not to consider controversial or tainted figures for the post.

PTI members Raja Basharat, Mian Aslam Iqbal, and Hashim Jawan Bakht, who represented the government in the parliamentary committee, have written a letter and sent the objections to the election commission.

The opposition has proposed the names of media owner Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and former bureaucrat Ahad Cheema for the post of caretaker chief minister. Chief Minister Punjab presented the names of former civil servant Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and Naveed Ahram Cheema.

In a letter to the ECP, the PTI said impartiality, reputation and capacity of the person recommended are the basic requirements for the appointment of the caretaker chief minister. The personalities suggested by the opposition lack all these qualities, the party said.

Mohsin Naqvi is reputed to be the main and driving force behind the regime change conspiracy, it said and mentioned that there is concrete evidence of Naqvi’s role in switching political loyalties along with PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

It added that Mohsin Naqvi is also linked with Chief Minister Punjab and the political and private antagonism is known. The PTI said Mohsin Naqvi completely lacks required administrative skills and experience for the post.

The PTI said the closeness of the recommended figures to PDM parties and their participation in political activities is apparent and raises doubt on their impartiality.

The PTI said Ahad Cheema is known for his close affiliation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Ahad Cheema is a co-accused in several NAB cases along with Shehbaz Sharif.

PTI said there is an ongoing inquiry into the 17-kanal plot against Ahad Cheema. The payment for the plot was made from the account of Asad Toor Paganwala, with whom Ahad Cheema is not related, in Surrey, UK.

Shehbaz Sharif showered favors on Ahad Cheema despite being a junior officer and appointed him Secretary Education and then DG Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

PM Shehbaz Sharif appointed Ahad Cheema as special assistant to the prime minister immediately after retirement in Grade 19. It said Ahad Cheema is also completely unfit for the post of Caretaker Chief Minister due to his closeness to the prime minister.

The PTI said it has instead suggested the names of personalities with the best reputation, ability and experience.

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