Dr Hasan Askari's name has been announced as caretaker chief minister of Punjab and the PML-N is not having it.

The party has accused the PTI nominee of being partial against them, with the likes of party stalwart and former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi saying that he doesn't expect fair polls under Askari.

"His [Askari's] impartiality and views against PML-N leadership are known to everyone. In the presence of Mr Askari as caretaker chief minister, elections on July 25 will not be fair and transparent." — Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Other PML-N bigwigs like Saad Rafique and Ahsan Iqbal have also expressed reservations about Dr Askari's appointment.

Are these concerns valid? The election commission doesn't think so and says the process was followed up to a tee, all ECP members on board and everything. Askari himself brushed aside the reservations saying he has "no political agenda".

The ANP is also unhappy with this nomination, with Zahid Khan making a sarcastic comment saying the commission may as well have posted PTI Information Sec to the office.

On the other hand, PPP and MMA are telling PML-N to accept Dr Askari’s nomination as they feel it followed due process.

Dr Askari takes oath today, amid the rumble, so stay tuned for more.

Opinion

Editorial

De-escalation efforts
23 Jul, 2026

De-escalation efforts

WHILE the exchange of fire across the Gulf — and the wider Middle East — continues between the US and Iran,...
Time to integrate
23 Jul, 2026

Time to integrate

PAKISTAN remains one of the least regionally integrated economies in Asia. The trade figures for the last fiscal ...
Modi unnerved
23 Jul, 2026

Modi unnerved

DISCONTENT is visible in India. Delhi has been on the boil since last month. As thousands took to the streets ...
Frozen Award
Updated 22 Jul, 2026

Frozen Award

KP’S petition before the Federal Constitutional Court, seeking Rs964bn as the province’s claimed share of tax...
Delayed pricing
22 Jul, 2026

Delayed pricing

THE ongoing delay in making new, approved lifesaving medicines available to patients is a serious lapse in...
Joint prayers
22 Jul, 2026

Joint prayers

IN a country which has witnessed monstrous bouts of sectarian violence, even symbolic gestures by clerics belonging...