LAHORE – Chief Minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Oppositionin the Punjab Assembly, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed held the first-ever meetingfor the selection of a caretaker chief minister.
The meeting took place at the central secretariat of ruling Pakistan MuslimLeague Nawaz on Friday to finalize the candidate for filling the top slotof the province, till the next regime takes charge of the country.
Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah and Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal arealso taking part in the discussion from PML-N’s side.
Moreover, Sibtain Khan, the deputy parliamentary leader of PTI is alsoaccompanying Mehmood ur Rasheed.Impasse Prevails Over Caretaker PM
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and leader of the opposition in theNational Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah have yet to finalize the candidatefor interim PM.
The top guns have had several discussions over the issue, however, thedeadlock persists to this day.
Meanwhile, Shah expressed on Thursday that there would be no more meetingson the matter, claiming that the premier had from time to time withdrawnfrom his position.
The opposition leader and PM Abbasi have met six times to discuss thematter, however, no consensus could be reached on a candidate to fill theslot till forthcoming elections.
The current government is to conclude its five-year stint on May 31, afterwhich the caretaker government will take charge to conduct generalelections, which are expected to be held in the last week of July or thefirst week of August.
Speaker of the National Assembly had earlier alluded that the ElectionCommission of Pakistan might have to decide the name, owing to thelong-standing deadlock over the issue.