“There was nothing wrong if we had been consulted,” Mr Sharif said in an interview with a private TV channel. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has neither hailed nor opposed the appointment of Sardar Latif Khosa as new governor of Punjab.

The party’s chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif, said he and his party had no objection to the appointment. But, he added, the government had not consulted his party on the issue.

“There was nothing wrong if we had been consulted,” Mr Sharif said in an interview with a private TV channel.

PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told Dawn that the offices of governor and president were non-political and should not be used for advancing the agenda of a political party.

“Problems arise when limits of the Constitution are crossed.”

He said if Mr Khosa became a partisan there would be misunderstanding and the democratic process would suffer.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said it would have been better for the political atmosphere if the PPP leadership had consulted the PML-N on the appointment. “Our party chief has asked the PPP leadership to appoint people with good reputation like Raza Rabbani to important posts.”

He said the PPP had ignored its own policy of reconciliation by not taking the PML-N onboard.

Mr Sharif is reported to have expressed reservations over the appointment of Mr Khosa in his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the latter promised to address his concerns.

PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid said: “At the moment we will not ask the PPP why has it appointed as the Punjab governor a person who is facing corruption allegations because we have given it 45 days to implement our 10-point reforms agenda in the interest of the nation. We will ask the PPP about the appointment after the expiry of our deadline.”

He expressed the hope that Mr Khosa would work within the ambit of law.