Huddle in London: Sharif advised to exercise ‘restraint’

PM Abbasi, party leaders brief Sharif on political situation

ISLAMABAD : Though the pitched electoral battle to secure the seat of NA-120 may have taken place in Lahore, London remained the centre of political gravity on Sunday where deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif held an important meeting with his successor Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other top leaders of the PML-N.

During the huddle, the prime minister and other party leaders advised the former prime minister to exercise restraint and refrain from adopting hostile attitude towards state institutions, the judiciary and security establishment in particular, it is learnt from knowledgeable insiders.

The former prime minister had targeted both the institutions during his public appearances and was recommended during Sunday’s huddle to change that policy.

Nawaz Sharif leaves for London to meet ailing wife

Sharif, the insiders said, has also been advised to stay away from the spotlight for the time being on the pretext of looking after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz, and arrive back home after sometime -- till the dust surrounding the rejection of review petitions of the Sharif family by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case settles, according to sources.

The incumbent premier is reportedly concerned that his predecessor’s critical stance regarding the judiciary and the security establishment would affect his (Abbasi’s) relations with the two state institutions and might brew problems for him.

It is still not clear whether Sharif would listen to their suggestions and spend more time in London or would land in Pakistan soon. However, party sources believe Sharif is expected to stay in London for some time and may not arrive in Pakistan immediately in order to attend his ill wife.

PM Abbasi, Foreign Minister Kawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had quietly landed in London earlier on Saturday evening to hold a meeting with Sharif.

The prime minister and the foreign minister were scheduled to fly to New York today (Monday) to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.

In an attempt to skip media’s attention, the venue of the meeting was changed, sources said. The meeting was originally scheduled at Hussain Nawaz’s residence, but was later rescheduled at the office of Hassan Nawaz, the insiders said.

Later, realising that the media was actively following the meeting, both the incumbent and former prime ministers briefly spoke to journalists outside Hussain’s office after the meeting.

A senior PML-N leader said Sharif ‘anxiously’ received updates of the NA-120 election from his staff given the importance of the election, during his meeting with party leaders in London.

Now that the PML-N has comfortably won the polls, Sharif may decide to step into his homeland soon. He has not shared any plans of his return yet.

“He (Sharif) remained silent (during the meeting) and did not speak his mind on whether he would be returning to Pakistan soon or not,” the insiders said, adding Kulsoom Nawaz would undergo a third surgery in London and Sharif would stay there till then.

“In case of an adverse election result, Sharif may have extended his stay in London. But now, there’s no reason to be away from Pakistan other than Kulsoom’s health condition,” the source said.

Sharif ‘summons’ PM, other leaders to UK after review pleas’ rejected

Sharif also praised his daughter Maryam Nawaz for running a successful campaign in the NA-120 constituency.

“She ran a very good campaign,” he said in his brief interaction with journalists.

Interestingly, Sharif, whose party is in power in Punjab and at the centre, accused ‘someone’ of ‘vanishing’ PML-N activists ahead of the NA-120 polls in an obvious reference to powers that be.

“Everything is in my knowledge. I know what’s going on. We are reviewing the situation,” he said.

PM Abbasi, on the other hand, attempted to avoid commenting on NA-120. “Once the decision (of election) is out, will speak on it,” he said, adding he discussed national and international issues with Sharif, including the PM’s upcoming appearance at the UNGA while talking to media in London.

Apart from that, on September 7, the PML-N was scheduled to announce the name of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the party’s regular head.

However, the PML-N would not announce the name of the new party chief till Sharif lands in Pakistan, the insiders said.

This would be done to show that Sharif, despite being ineligible to head the country and his own party, is still politically relevant and calling the shots.