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

Expansionary budget
Updated 10 Jun, 2023

Expansionary budget

Fiscal plan that the budget has laid out will lead to the accumulation of more debt, even if the targets are met.
Politics by proxy
10 Jun, 2023

Politics by proxy

LIKE some grotesque phoenix, the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party has risen from the still-smouldering ashes of the PTI....
Badakhshan bombing
10 Jun, 2023

Badakhshan bombing

THE gruesome tactic of attacking funerals is part and parcel of the militant playbook. Several funerals have been...
Stuck in the past
Updated 09 Jun, 2023

Stuck in the past

Dar's enduring fixation with the exchange rate suggests that he has learned nothing from past mistakes.
Unequivocal message
09 Jun, 2023

Unequivocal message

AN unmistakably forceful message has been sent out that puts to rest any notion of a house divided. The military top...
Early closure
09 Jun, 2023

Early closure

ON the face of it, closing shops early is a sound idea. Not only would the move help save energy during the stifling...