ISLAMABAD, June 7: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday rejected the Election Commission’s decision naming Dr Hasan Askari as caretaker Punjab chief minister.
In a press conference held hours after the ECP chose Dr Askari for the interim slot, PML-N leaders voiced their reservations over his selection and called on the Commission to review its decision.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was succeeded by Justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk as the caretaker premier last Friday, said Dr Askari’s appointment as the caretaker Punjab CM would cast doubt over transparency in the upcoming general election.
Abbasi, accompanied by Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Khurram Dastgir, Rana Sanaullah among other party leaders, said Dr Askari was an ardent critic of the PML-N and that his partiality was evident in the views he expressed in his articles and news programmes.
“It is unfortunate that the ECP chose [Askari for the position]. The PML-N will reject the election results if he is made caretaker chief minister of Punjab,” he said.
The former prime minister, brandishing an article penned down by Askari years ago, said that his articles show his partiality against the PML-N.
Abbasi lamented that the names proposed by the PML-N for the caretaker Punjab CM slot were of individuals with good reputation whose neutrality was well-established.
Speaking to Geo News earlier today, Rana Sanaullah said Dr Askari is very vocal against PML-N and has always targeted their party. “He does not believe in democracy and cannot be expected to ensure work is done on merit and without bias,” the PML-N leader added. The former law minister further said, “We have issued a written statement over reservations on Dr Askari’s appointment and we can challenge it.” -Agencies
