Shahbaz, other PML-N leaders discuss situation

While Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif is leaving for London, the PML-N in a meeting on Monday decided that Shahbaz Sharif will return to Pakistan after health condition of Nawaz Sharif is stabilized.

It was also decided that the party matters would be run through 'collective leadership' after due consultation while the PML-N parliamentary advisory group will oversee matters related to parliament and other administrative issues.

The PML-N meeting which was chaired by Shahbaz Sharif was attended among others by Raja Zafarul Haq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, Amir Muqam, Rana Tanveer and others.

The meeting discussed in detail the challenges facing the nation including inflation, poverty, joblessness and "governance breakdown" in Punjab.

The meeting discussed the current situation and adopted future line of action. It was decided to expose the PTI government on its failure on all fronts, the sources said. The PML-N advisory group includes Raja Zafar ul Haq, Rana Tanveer, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Sardar Ayyaz Sadiq.

After the meeting, the PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal told media that his party wants fresh general elections in 2020 which is the only way forward in the face of the "political and economic challenges being faced by the nation."

Suggesting 'national dialogue' for holding free and fair elections next year, Ahsan said that the Election Commission of Pakistan in consultation with all political parties should devise a foolproof mechanism to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

When asked about the health of Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N leader said that the former prime minister will leave the country Tuesday for treatment abroad. "Nawaz Sharif should have left the country 15 days ago but the government created unnecessary hurdles in his travel which could be fatal," he said. He criticised the ministers for issuing statements against a seriously ill person.

Ahsan Iqbal maintained that the PML-N also decided to strengthen the ongoing protest drive against the government. He said the party's parliamentary committee also discussed measures to extend the impacts of the anti-government drive being run by opposition parties. "The government has failed completely, the infrastructure and all departments in Punjab have been ruined," he alleged.

Answering a question, Ahsan said the Rehbar Committee in its next meeting will discuss about the future course of action as every party has its own Plan B and Plan C. The PML-N also decided to run a membership drive across the country.

Talking about South Punjab province, he alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government hoodwinked the people on this issue. "The PML-N will again raise its voice over the issue in the National Assembly," he said, adding: "The PML-N would also raise the issue of Hazara province in the assembly."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

Read Comments