LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif met senior party leaders on Saturday to discuss a strategy for countering groupings within the party, a private TV channel reported.
In a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Chaudhry Muneer at his Jati Umra residence, Nawaz expressed concerns over reports of groupings within the party ranks.
The party leaders decided to launch a mass public contact campaign for the 2018 general elections starting with a rally in Abbottabad on November 12. The schedule for future election rallies will be announced after the Abbottabad rally.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in London on Saturday and held discussions on important political matters.
According to reports, the chief minister had extended his stay in London to hold meeting with PM Abbasi.
The prime minister arrived in London on Friday afternoon to attend the “Future of Pakistan, 2017” conference where he was to make a keynote speech. Shehbaz was in London to attend a high-level party meeting held last Sunday.
The high-level huddle of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in London had decided that if victorious in next year’s general elections, Shehbaz will be the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
Meanwhile, former interior minister and a disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that Nawaz Sharif’s presence in country will put an end to rumours.
Addressing media representatives in Taxila on Saturday, he said that the constitutional amendments that PML-N was making efforts for were in the interest of Pakistan and the democracy.
He urged the political forces to work together in order to bring stability in the country.
He declined to comment on allegations that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been deposed as a result of a conspiracy. “I don’t want to get into the debate about whether there was a conspiracy [within the PML-N] or not, but no plot can succeed if there is unity within the party,” he claimed. “The party is united and I’m sure that if we stand together as a strong political party, we will overcome all challenges.”
He went on to highlight the importance of cooperation between the state institutions in order to strengthen the prevailing democratic system.
“This country needs stability right now to counter both internal and external challenges. For that to happen, there must not only be coordination between the state institutions but also respect for each other despite any differences,” he maintained.
The former minister criticised Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid for claiming that the 2018 general elections will get delayed. “I’m not blessed with any divine knowledge only Sheikh Rashid has access to that,” he quipped. “In my opinion, however, anyone making such claims is not a well-wisher of this country,” he added.
Published in Daily Times, November 5th 2017.
