LAHORE, May 29 (TNS): Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed called on Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here at Chief Minister’s Office Monday.
Both agreed to nominate a consensus caretaker chief minister and announced Nasir Saeed Khosa the brother of Justice (R) Asif Saeed Khosa as caretaker Chief Minister Punjab.
Talking on the occasion, the chief minister said, name of Nasir Saeed Khosa had been agreed upon after consultation with the opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.
“Some Names were suggested during the earlier meeting and we have consulted our party leadership afterwards. After the consultations, we have agreed on one name and this democratic harmony is the beauty of democratic system,” he added.
He said Nasir Khosa had performed his duties with utmost honesty and hard work during his service career and he was hopeful that Mr. Khosa would come up to the expectations of masses.
He hoped that Nasir Khosa would utilize his diverse experience and professional abilities for holding transparent elections so that the political parties could independently take part in the elections and everybody could have same opportunities in the election process.
“It is hoped that people will be at liberty to give votes to the parties of their choice and democratic process will be continued. It is the victory of the people and I am thankful to Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed as the consultation process gives impetus to the democracy,” he added.
Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said second meeting with Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had proved fruitful and after considering different names and discussion with the PTI leader Imran Khan, they had agreed on the name of Nasir Saeed Khosa.
“I am hopeful that he shall play his role most objectively with regard to holding of free, fair and transparent elections. I also extend congratulations to the people of Punjab,” he further said.
Khosa is the Alternate Executive Director from Pakistan representing Afghanistan, Algeria, Ghana, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia.
The former bureaucrat was born in Dera Ghazi Khan. He served as a chief secretary in both, Punjab and Balochistan, with his tenure in the former extending to over two years with Shehbaz Sharif as the chief minister from Feb 4, 2010.
He belongs to the sixth common batch of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS).
Khosa has a post-graduate degree in English Literature and Public Administartion from Government College Lahore, he completed his LLB from Punjab University and specialised in Developmental Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
The designated-caretaker chief minister was appointed secretary finance in the 2013 caretaker government.
Khosa was appointed as Principal Secretary by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on May 27, 2013. He worked as an Executive Director for the World Bank after his retirement from the civil services.
He has recently returned to Pakistan after his service at the World Bank for the span of two-three years.
Supreme Court’s senior judge Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and former DG FIA Tariq Masood Khosa are his brothers.
