Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that there was consensus in the entire nation from Karachi to Peshawar on the name of former justice Nasir Aslam Zahid for caretaker prime minister. "If the federal government proposed good and honest personalities, they would agree on them. However, PML-N will take final decision after consultation of party leaders in this regard," he added.
He expressed these views while talking to newsmen after inaugurating Bank of Punjab's first Islamic Banking branch at New Garden Town on Friday. Bank's President Naeemuddin Khan, other staffs of the bank and members of assembly were also present on the occasion. The BoP has launched Islamic banking to provide its customers with Shariah compliant services under licence issued by the State Bank of Pakistan. In this connection a ceremony was held at BoP's branch in Main Boulevard New Garden Town.
He also said Rasool Bukhsh Palejo was also a hard working and honest person. He prayed that politicians should agree to the names of caretaker set-up with sincerity otherwise it would be very unfortunate. He said they had proposed the names of honest and dutiful personalities for caretaker government. "We have proposed the name of former justice Amir Raza for caretaker Punjab Chief Minister who is an honest person and the nation has agreed over it," he added. According to him, Khawaja Zaheer is also an able and honest person.
Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said PPP had released its manifesto in the darkness of night but people could not be hoodwinked, as PPP had not provided 'Roti, Kapra Aur Makan' during five years and now they were trying to befool the masses again. It was the government of PPP that had emptied the national exchequer, he added. On BoP, he said that in the name of development projects, the past rulers indulged in corruption and looted billions of rupees from the BoP. He also said loans were obtained from the bank under fake names and in the name of board of directors of the bank, and their closed mills were sold.
"When PML-N came into power, the condition of BoP was worst like the province. The previous government had made the entire Punjab a graveyard of corruption and a dacoity of 75 billion rupees was committed in BoP. We have strengthened Punjab economically through concrete and transparent policies. Similarly, BoP has also been made strong through best administration. Due to effective steps, bank has been purged of political interference and made a strong institution and now its performance is highly satisfactory," he added.
He observed that launching of Islamic banking branch was a good omen and banking on Islamic pattern had been started through that step and the programme would be further extended. He said Islamic banking branch was an important progress and its scope would be further expanded. "Islamic banking should be promoted in the country and the Punjab government will further promote Islamic banking.