LAHORE, June 23: Notwithstanding the party’s statements against the new prime minister, the PML-N leaders have decided not to give a tough time to Raja Pervez Ashraf and deal with him like they were dealing with Yousuf Raza Gilani before his conviction by the Supreme Court.

A senior party leader told Dawn here on Saturday that they would establish a working relationship with Mr Ashraf at the same level they had with Mr Gilani before April 26 when the apex court convicted him in a contempt of court case. He said that PML-N’s first priority would be to make Mr Ashraf initiate and then take to its logical conclusion the consultation for appointment of new chief election commissioner. The post is lying vacant since retirement of CEC Hamid Ali Mirza.

He said Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had been asked to write a letter to the new prime minister for initiating the consultation process on the appointment of the CEC.

The PML-N leader said his party would be trying to give the office to Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid because almost all the parties had agreed to his appointment.

Recalling that slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had nominated Justice Nasir as head of the inquiry to probe the murder of her brother Murtaza Bhutto during her second stint as prime minister, he said the present government too had been showing inclination to accept the nomination during back channel contacts with former prime minister Gilani.