Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday telephoned Pakistan Muslim League-Qauaid (PML-Q) supremo Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulan Fazlur Rehman to hold consultations on the name of caretaker chief minister of Punjab.
In a post on Twitter, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also confirmed that the premier has consulted with the government’s coalition partners to discuss the PML-N’s nominees for Punjab caretaker chief minister.
The minister said that PM Shehbaz also held consultations with the ally parties leaders on the political situation of the country.
The development comes hours after Prime Minister’s spokesperson Malik Ahmad Khan said that PM Shehbaz would discuss PML-N’s nominees for Punjab caretaker chief minister with Zardari and the list would subsequently be forwarded to the governor.
Talking to newsmen in Lahore, he said that the premier consulted with Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz while efforts to develop a consensus with the PPP would be made today.
Malik Ahmad said it was inappropriate to publicise the names before sharing them with coalition partners. “We are holding consultation with allies who have a stake in Punjab.”
On Monday, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman had sent three names proposed by outgoing Punjab CM Parvez Elahi to Hamza to build a consensus on the matter.
On January 15, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the PML-Q finalised three consensus candidates as their nominees for the appointment of a caretaker chief minister in the province.
The nominees included Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, former health minister Naseer Khan and former chief secretary Nasir Saeed Khosa.
Last week, Elahi had signed a summary to dissolve the Punjab Assembly.
The next day on Saturday, the provincial assembly automatically dissolved after Punjab governor refused to sign the summary.