Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned top leadership of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to hold consultations on the name of caretaker chief minister of Punjab.
In a tweet, she said that the PM called former president Asif Ali Zardari, Muslim League (Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The prime minister also held consultations with the ally parties leaders on the political situation of the country, she said.
Aurangzeb said PM Shehbaz also discussed the country’s overall political situation with the coalition leaders.
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری، مسلم لیگ (ق) کے سربراہ چوہدری شجاعت حسین اور پی ڈی ایم کے سربراہ مولانا فضل الرحمان کو ٹیلی فون وزیراعظم کی پنجاب کے نگران وزیر اعلی کے نام پر تینوں قائدین سے مشاورت وزیراعظم کی اتحادی قائدین سے ملک کی سیاسی صورتحال پر بھی مشاورت
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) January 17, 2023
The development comes hours after Prime Minister’s spokesperson Malik Ahmad Khan said the premier 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 reporters in Lahore, Khan said the prime minister consulted with Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz while efforts to develop a consensus with the PPP would be made today.
Khan said it was inappropriate to publicize the names before sharing them with coalition partners. “We are holding consultation with allies who have a stake in Punjab.”
He said he also had a telephonic conversation with Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi “and meritoriously speaking, we did not have any major objection to the names finalized by him [Elahi] for the coveted post”.
When asked if the PPP was also suggesting its nominee for the provincial chief executive’s position, Khan said such decisions were always taken with consensus, especially when consultations were involved.
To another question, the PM’s adviser said the political environment was “overall good” in the country.
