Govt 'will fight' if PTI challenges choice of Punjab CM in court: Asif.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for DefenAAce Khawaja Asif on Monday said appointment of Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has been made in accordance with the Constitution and if the PTI challenged it any court, the coalition government of Pakistan DemoAcratic Movement (PDM) will contest it as per law.

'If they (PTI leaders) challenge it (the appointment of caretaker CM of Punjab) in the court, then there will be a legal battle and it will be contested as per the law by the coalition government,' Mr Asif told a press conference while welcoming the appointment of Mr Naqvi.

He said the appointment of the caretaker chief minister of Punjab could not be challenged in the court as the process had passed all codal formalities starting from the leader of the opposition to the ECP.

'I welcome the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as the entire process was in accordance with the Constitution,' the defence minister said.

He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan had no moral ground to make efforts for his party's lawmakers to rejoin the National AssemAbly after tendering resignations of 155 members of National Assembly last year. The defence minister said the PTI did not do its homework well before fielAding two of its candidates for the slot.

Mohsin Naqvi's appointment hailed, termed in accordance with Constitution

'The PTI and others did not do good homework for the post as one of its nominees was a serving government employee and the other was a dual national. Their vetting was not good for these nominees as a result they faced humiliation,' Mr Asif said. He said one of the nominees of PakAistan Democratic MoveAment (PDM) was a former civil servant and the other was media personality.

On the other hand, the PTI also gave the name of an honourable bureaucrat who excused himself from taking the task. Hence, the PTI's objection to Mr Naqvi's appointment was a fake cry.

Referring to allegations of the plea bargain levelled against Mr Naqvi, the defence minister said...