ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The main opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N on Tuesday added grist to the early elections rumour mill by announcing that it had short-listed nine names to head a caretaker government. At the same time, it accused the ruling PPP of having already started pre-poll rigging.

Talking to reporters at Punjab House, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the PML-N would disclose the names it had short-listed for the post of prime minister after holding consultations with other opposition parties, including the Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf and nationalist parties.

Chaudhry Nisar said none of the names selected by his party belonged to Punjab and there was no retired bureaucrat or general among them. He said the list comprised retired judges, senior lawyers and politicians of good repute.

Chaudhry Nisar’s statement about short-listing the names for the caretaker prime minister came a day after PPP leaders indicated their readiness to hold elections ahead of schedule on the opposition’s demand.

PPP’s chief whip and Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday echoed Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira that the elections could be held before time if the opposition insisted.

Chaudhry Nisar also accused President Asif Zardari of indulging in pre-poll rigging by “buying” some media personnel through official resources. He alleged that Rs2-4 billion had already been channelised and another Rs4 billion had been earmarked for distribution among some TV channels before the elections. He said it was time that the Election Commission should become active and take notice of the matter.