Back in the saddle: Sharif puts foot in PML-N stirrup after vote

Party amends its laws to allow disqualified person to become party chief, formal election expected today

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Monday swung into action to reappoint ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif as party chief after getting Parliament to pass a controversial amendment in the election laws.

In this connection, three important huddles of the ruling party were held—all under one agenda, to get the deposed premier at the party’s helm. The ruling party is scheduled to formally reelect Sharif as party chief today (Tuesday).

The Election Bill 2017, passed by the National Assembly on Monday, is essentially law, requiring only ceremonial approval from the president. Some in the ruling party, however, fear that the amended law may be rejected by the Supreme Court due to its ‘benefit for one’ nature and timing.

On Monday, soon after Sharif appeared before the accountability court and returned to Punjab House, the meeting of PML-N Central Working Committee was held there at 11: 15 am under the chair of PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq. The meeting passed a vote of confidence in recognition of Sharif’s services as premier and paid homage to him.



Later, the CWC amended the party constitution to allow any party member to become party chief, even if they have been disqualified from holding public office. The amendment was moved by Climate Change Minister Mushahidullah Khan in his capacity as PML-N information secretary.

Separately, at 3:30pm, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, in his capacity as Leader of the House in the National Assembly, convened a meeting of the PML-N’s Parliamentary Party at Parliament House.

Party sources said the meeting aimed at ensuring maximum attendance of PML-N lawmakers for the passage of Election Bill 2017 that was taken up by the lower house. The bill was moved by the ruling party to pave the way for Sharif’s return as party president despite being disqualified from holding public office by the Supreme Court in Panama Papers case.



Last week, the PML-N managed to pass the bill from the Senate by a one-vote margin, which triggered the ruling party’s efforts to ensure the passage of the said bill with a sizeable margin that reflects the PML-N’s comfortable majority in the lower house.

“We have been facing issues such as adjournments of NA sessions due to lack of quorum. We don’t want to end up with any such embarrassing situation and that too when such an important bill has to be passed.

That’s why the PM put down his foot to push his lawmakers to be around during the NA session till this bill comes to vote,” said a PML-N lawmaker, requesting anonymity.

Originally, the Election Bill 2017 was passed by the NA a few days back, and when it landed in the Senate, the bill was challenged by the opposition after Pakistan People’s Party’s Aitzaz Ahsan moved an amendment to maintain a bar on persons disqualified from holding public office being able to head a political party.



The amendment was rejected by the Senate, following which, the amended draft came back to the NA on Monday for approval via a simple majority.

On Monday night, the first meeting of the PML-N’s General Council was held at the Convention Centre. The council approved the amendment made by the CWC in the party constitution to allow Nawaz to become president.

It also approved a code of election conduct for the new party chief.  Sharif would be formally elected in the second and final meeting of the General Council today (Tuesday) morning through a ceremonial election, where he will be unopposed.

Nomination papers for Sharif’s candidature would also be submitted today (Tuesday) before the PML-N’s Election Commission. After scrutiny by PML-N Chief Election Commissioner Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal and others, Sharif’s election would be notified.