Banners put up in Lahore asking Nawaz to let Shehbaz take over

Banners have been put up in several areas of Lahore, asking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down and let his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, take over as the premier.

The banners read "Janay do janay do Mian sahib  janay do aur aanay do aanay do Mian Shehbaz Sharif ko aanay do (Let it go Mian sahib [Nawaz Sharif] and let Shehbaz Sharif come)", Express News reported.



They have been put up by an organisation that identifies itself as NGO Pakistan and carry the names and phone numbers of two of its representatives.

Political analysts say that these banners seem to indicate that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is facing internal rifts and many of its leaders and activists are not on the same page.

Senior PML-N leaders have stepped in to effect a ‘patch-up’ between Nawaz and his aggrieved yet powerful cabinet member, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Knowledgeable quarters said the Nawaz was not happy that the interior minister is not on the forefront in dealing with the ongoing Panamagate probe crisis.

On the other hand, Nisar believes it were the advice of the prime minister's political confidantes – including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar – that led to a situation where Nawaz is being cornered from all sides and the demands for his resignation have gained momentum.