CEC Raja meets ECP secretary before officially naming caretaker CM for Punjab
Last updated on: 23 January,2023 07:47 pm
CEC Raja meets ECP secretary before officially naming caretaker CM for Punjab
ISAMABAD (Dunya News) - Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja held a meeting with the Election Commission Secretary at his office on Sunday to discuss four proposed names for the slot of the caretaker chief minister Punjab.
Sources told Dunya News that the CEC also discussed the procedure of appointment in detail with the ECP secretary. The secretary informed the CEC about four proposed names sent by both the treasury and opposition sides.
Amid prevailing differences between the ruling and opposition leaders for the appointment of the caretaker provincial chief executive for Punjab, Raja will chair an important meeting at 6pm to select the name for the top provincial slot.
The meeting participants will deliberate upon the names proposed by the parliamentary committee for reaching consesus on the final name. All four members and the ECP secretary will attend the meeting.
The election watchdog has to decide on the nominee for the caretaker CM slot today as the two-day time given to the commission under Article 224-A of the Constitution will be expiring today.
Sources said CEC Raja would announce the name around 10pm.
Outgoing CM Parvez Elahi has proposed the names of Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and Naveed Akram Cheema while oppoistion leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz has backed the names of Mohsin Naqvi and Ahad Cheema for the caretaker slot.
The matter of the caretaker CM’s appointment in Punjab faced an unusual delay after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly last week due to differences between the provincial government and the opposition on the nominees.
-- ECP contacts PA secretary twice --
The ECP contacted the Punjab Assembly Secretary Inaitullah Lak twice on Sunday and asked to submit two names proposed by the opposition side.
The Assembly Secretariat sent a copy of the gazette notification to the ECP. The Commission again contacted the Assembly s secretary and sought the letter written by Punjab Chief Minister to the PA Speaker.