LAHORE – Dr. Hassan Askari Rizvi, a political scientist and defence analyst, on Friday took oath as caretaker chief minister of Punjab amid reservations expressed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The oath-taking ceremony was held at Governor House in Lahore where Governor Rafique Rajwana administered the oath. A number of senior officials and politicians were present on the occasion.
The name of Askari was selected by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday after the parliamentary committee failed to reach the consensus.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/dr-hasan-askari-named-caretaker-punjab-chief-minister/
The ECP confirmed that former Speaker Punjab assembly has forwarded four names for caretaker CM Punjab. The government had suggested Justice (r) Sair Ali and Admiral (r) M Zakaullah’s name while opposition sent names of Ayaz Amir and Dr. Hasan Askari.
Hasan Askar, whose name was pitched by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is noted for his work in comparative politics, nuclear weapons, and country’s domestic policy.
Author of various books, including Military, state and society in Pakistan, Askari has been serving as professor of political science at the Punjab University, Lahore.
He was conferred with Sitara-e-Imtiaz by President of Pakistan in 2010.
He gained BA (with honours) in Political science and English literature in 1968 from the Punjab University. In 1970, he attained MA in political science and proceeded with his studies of United Kingdom. Rizvi received MPhil on the basis of publishing his thesis on South Asia and the Comparative government.
PML-N’s Reservations
op guns of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz decried the appointment of Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, pressing Election Commission of Pakistan to review the decision.
Addressing a press conference, former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi expressed that Hassan Askari was ignorant about the constitution adding that the high-profile appointment in Punjab would cast doubts about the whole election process.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pml-n-top-brass-presses-ecp-to-review-appointment-of-biased-hassan-askari-rizvi/
‘The individuals proposed by PML-N were of better repute without any doubt of partiality,’ claimed the former chief executive.
ECP Rejects Reservations
The Election Commission of Pakistan swung into action minutes after the reservations aired by PML-N leaders and outrightly rejected the allegations hurled at Hassan Askari Rizvi, virtually implying that the decision would not be withdrawn.
