LAHORE – Punjab Chief Ministerlink>link>Shahbaz Shariflink> and PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly MianMahmoodur Rasheed would hold a meeting to finalise the name of thecaretaker chief executive of the province.
The sources confirmed this scribe that initially as many as eight names arebeing considered from both sides—the government and theopposition—including Kamran Rasool, Salman Ghani, Salman Shah, Tariq Khosa,Khizar Hayat Gondal, Shahid Hafiz Kardar, Mian Allah Nawaz and Dr SafdarMahmood.
Pertinent to mention that Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed who was also beingconsidered in the race of the interim chief ministership as PakistanPeoples’ Party was also agreed with his name has already excused for thispost by the reason of his personal reasons.
It is worth mentioning that mostly the names under consideration for theslot of interim chief minister are retired bureaucrats including KamranRasool, a former chief secretary Punjab from 2003 to 2005, Tariq MasoodKhosa, former director general of Federal Investigation Agency in 2009,Khizar Hayat Gondal, former chief secretary Punjab from 2015 to 2016, whilean economist, a former judge and a banker’s names are also included in theconsideration list.
Salman Shah is a former caretaker finance minister and has good name amongthe power corridors as well as Shahid Kardar is well known and wellconnected former Governor of State Bank of Pakistan. Justice (r) Mian AllahNawaz is former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court while Salman Ghani is amedia person.
It is worthy to mention that initially, Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif hadappointed his government’s law minister Rana Sanaullah to hold meeting withthe opposition leader to get the name of the interim setup but MahmoodurRasheed denied to meet him having a stance that constitutionally, he wouldonly discuss the name of next interim setup with Punjab chief minister.