LAHORE, March 6: The PML-N and most other opposition parties have selected Justices (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid and Shakirullah Jan and Sindhi nationalist leader Rasool Bakhsh Palejo as their preferred nominees for the post of interim prime minister.

“We’ve completed our consultations on the caretaker prime minister and shortlisted the names of Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice Shakirullah Jan and Rasool Bakhsh Palejo,” Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said at a press conference here on Wednesday.

But he hastened to add that the selection was conditional and subject to the opinion of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf with whom consultations are being held through Liaquat Baloch of Jamaat-i-Islami.

Chaudhry Nisar said the names would be sent to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday.

He said a complete consensus could not be evolved but most of the opposition parties had accepted the names. He rejected a perception that Mr Palejo’s name was included in the list to appease nationalists. “The names did not come from the blue; rather it was part of the original list of eight nominees which also included Ataullah Mengal, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and late Qazi Husain Ahmed.”

He said there were objections to other names, except those of the three, adding that opposition parties were being asked why only judges were being considered for the post and whether no politician was capable of taking up the responsibility.

Chaudhry Nisar said two names had been shortlisted for the post of caretaker chief minister of Punjab, but declined to disclose them.

He said the 12-party opposition alliance, including the N and F factions of the Pakistan Muslim League, had strongly opposed the decision to give the post of leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The PML-N leader said his party had already moved higher courts and would also approach the Election Commission on the issue and was considering to link dissolution of the Punjab Assembly to it.

He said his party was in favour of dissolving all assemblies and holding elections on same day, but there were other factors which needed to be addressed for ensuring free and fair elections.

He admitted that the Constitution did not restrain the MQM from joining the opposition, but said the move was made at this time to steal the coming elections and was also a violation of the 20th Amendment.

“A party that remained on treasury benches for five years has been given the slot only 10 days before completion of the sanctioned term of the house without any consultation, while its nominated governor in Sindh is still holding the office,” he said.