Islamabad/Lahore:  Pakistan's ruling PPP was today embroiled in a fresh controversy with its ally PML-N opposing the appointment of a new governor for Punjab province even as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani reiterated he would not accept the resignation of PML-N ministers.

Soon after it was officially announced that industrialist Salman Taseer had been appointed governor of Punjab by President Pervez Musharraf, the PML-N, which is in power in the province, said it had not been consulted on the decision.

Senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a news conference in Lahore that the appointment of a "controversial person as governor" was part of a conspiracy hatched by Musharraf. He alleged Musharraf wanted "to initiate horse-trading" in Punjab.

Pointing out that the PML-N government in Punjab was not taken into confidence in the matter, Khan said his party has objections to Taseer s appointment.

Khan also urged the Prime Minister to accept the resignations of the PML-N ministers.

In Islamabad, Pakistan People s Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had spoken to senior PML-N leader Khwaja Asif and Punjab Chief Minister Dost Mohammad Khosa on Taseer s appointment.

Babar said Taseer was the most appropriate of a few candidates considered for the gubernatorial post by the PPP, and the PML-N s reservations over the appointment could be sorted out by the two parties.

Rejecting reports of differences between the PPP and PML-N, Babar said "there are people who want that there should be rifts between the two".

Source : PTI