ECP appoints Mohsin Naqvi as caretaker CM for Punjab
ECP appoints Mohsin Naqvi as caretaker CM for Punjab as Punjab Assembly parliamentary committee could not agree on the appointment during a crucial meeting.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
ECP in a press release said that a notification regarding the appointment had been issued while a separate letter had been dispatched to Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman for administering the oath to Naqvi.
“Pursuant to the proviso of Clause(3) of Article 224-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and as a result of detailed deliberations made on January 22, the ECP has unanimously decided to appoint Syed Mohsin Rana Naqvi as the caretaker chief minister, Punjab with immediate effect,” the notification reads.
#ECP has unanimously decided to appoint Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi as Care-Taker Chief Minister Punjab pic.twitter.com/MUiGKVfEd0
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) January 22, 2023
Naqvi is the owner of a media house and is said to be very close to PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari.
He was one of the two candidates suggested by Hamza Shehbaz for the caretaker CM post.
The ECP was not to appoint anyone out of the names provided by both sides.
Outgoing Chief Minister Parvez Elahi had proposed the names of Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera and Naveed Akram Cheema.
On the other hand, the leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz had endorsed the names of Naqvi and Ahad Cheema for the caretaker slot.
As per the Constitution, the ECP would have to appoint a caretaker CM within 48 hours.
