My pick for PM, CM offices

So far, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has not shown its candidate against Shehbaz Sharif. Having Shehbaz Sharif as the only choice, The Side Mirror endorses Shehbaz Sharif as the replacement of Imran Khan

The centre and Punjab are going to pick the successors of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. This is the time the Side Mirror gave its choice for the two slots. All over the world, newspaper editorial boards publish their choice for the nomination for such slots, where elections are involved. Like other newspapers in Pakistan, Minute Mirror’s editorial board does not want to endorse any individual for a slot. By the way, an editorial piece a newspaper’s personal space to comment on a hot topic and give its personal opinion. New York Times has been endorsing a presidential candidate since 1860.

It’s first endorsement was Abraham Lincoln, and the last was Joe Biden.

Let The Side Mirror try its choice for the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister. By all means, this is my personal opinion, and not of the newspaper. I wish our editorial board also came up with its choice the next time such opportunity arises.

First the centre.

The number game is not so kind to Prime Minister Imran Khan. If any eventuality does not strike Islamabad, the success of the no-confidence motion against the prime minister is imminent. If things go smoothly, the opposition’s joint candidate, Shehbaz Sharif, is set to win the prime minister officer with 177 votes. So far, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has not shown its candidate against Shehbaz Sharif. Having Shehbaz Sharif as the only choice, The Side Mirror endorses Shehbaz Sharif as the replacement of Imran Khan. Shehbaz Sharif deserves to be the occupant of the Prime Minister House, for he has been into parliamentary business since 1988. He has been around the ridges as Punjab chief minister three times, and opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly and the National Assembly. He may not be a good opposition leader, but his record as the chief minister is somewhat satisfactory. In his last two consecutive terms as the chief minister of Punjab, he introduced a few landmark projects, such as the Safe City Authority, the Punjab Information Technology Board, and Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority. My sane readers will understand the reasons for not picking Metro Bus and Orange Line train among Shehbaz Sharif’s outstanding projects. He, however, is not without the burden of corruption cases. His communication skills are pathetic. He is a repetitive and boring talker as much as Imran Khan.

Now, something about Punjab.

Governor Chaudhry Sarwar has accepted the resignation of Usman Buzdar. A neck-to-neck competition is being expected between ruling benches’ Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz to be called the successor to Usman Buzdar.

The Side Mirror’s choice is Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

The Chaudhry of Gujrat does not become an ultimate choice of mine; he is a Hobson’s choice, because the other option – Hamza Shehbaz – does not qualify to be an appropriate choice. He is a copycat of his father, Shehbaz Sharif, and uncle Nawaz Sharif. His father calls Imran Khan as Imran Niazi, and Hamza does so. His uncle wears light sky colour dress, and Hamza is always seen in sky colour dress. If his uncle starts wearing shorts and shirt, you will see him buying a collection of shorts and shirts.

Chaudhry Parvez Elahi never deserved to be a candidate for the chief minister, for he is the representative of an 11-MPA party. He minted the nomination by pressuring the PTI in the wake of the no-confidence motion in Islamabad.

Punjab will, however, gain a lot under Parvez Elahi as the chief minister. His earlier tenure as the CM from 2002 to 2007 blessed Punjab with projects like Rescue 1122, Multan Cardiology Hospital, several universities, and road networks. He is humble, and is averse to revenge.

So, my pick for prime minister is Shehbaz Sharif and chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.