PHOTO: FILE
According to well-placed sources in the Punjab government, several MPAs who met Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few days ago were informed that the PML-N Punjab stood behind Nawaz Sharif, but the confusion regarding a possible change in the top leadership was not clarified to them.
Some senior leaders in Punjab were openly denying such rumours though, the Punjab chief minister has decided to keep mum on the issue for reasons best known to him.
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Notwithstanding, Punjab spokesperson Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan in his initial reaction had termed the demands made by Federal Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada ‘practical’ and ‘pragmatic’.
A senior PML-N parliamentarian told The Express Tribune: “There is confusion in the party which both Nawaz and Shehbaz should address [at the earliest].”
He said the Sharif brothers had adopted different approaches regarding NAB trials and any decision over the party’s future course of action on the issue could only be taken after the question of who would head the party was settled.
“Nawaz Sharif will always be the party head – in his capacity as president or otherwise. However, the [current] situation necessities Shehbaz taking over the party reins,” said the parliamentarian.
“Punjab lawmakers cannot discuss the issue even in their private gatherings for the simple fact that mere discussion of issues among MPAs in private gatherings can be termed formation of a forward block,” he added.
One such gathering was a dinner hosted by MPA Shaukat Ali Laleka and the other was a meeting called for discussing the Saaf Pani Project at a hotel in Lahore.
“For this reason we have advised party legislators to not [even] walk in a group in corridors of Punjab Assembly,” he said on a lighter note. “If a group of more than five MPAs is seen, media will start speculating about the formation of a forward block.”
Meanwhile, MPA Zaeem Qadri said there was no confusion in the party regarding the top leadership. He said there was no need for Shehbaz to issue statement to clear the mist, adding that addressing such a non-issue would only give credence to rumours.
It is pertinent to mention that Shehbaz has avoided interacting with the media ever since the press conference of Riaz Pirzada. His silence on the issues was only aggravating the situation.
In a statement, the chief minister did not even touch the issue, just saying that a prosperous and stable Pakistan is the cherished goal of his government, and public service and their welfare is a form of worship.
“Resources are a sacred trust of the people which are being utilised for public welfare and prosperity,” the chief minister said while talking to elected representatives who called on him on Wednesday.
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“It is a matter of satisfaction that people from across the province are equally benefiting from the completion of development projects. The development schemes are an example of their own with regard to quality and transparency, and a new history has been written by saving billions of rupees in different development schemes,” he added.
Shehbaz said the various mega projects had been designed to bridge the divide between the poor and the rich. “The common man has been returned his right through these projects; however, a handful of the ruling elite are objecting to the projects aimed at providing quality facilities to the ordinary people without any reason,” he lamented.
He said that metro bus projects were meant for the common people as “lakhs of commuters are reaching their destinations in a shorter period of time by traveling on metro buses in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi-Islamabad”.
“Metro bus is a respectable means of transport for the ordinary people and after this bus service, people will also enjoy best traveling facilities through orange line metro train,” he said.
The CM said it was a matter of satisfaction that the critics of the metro bus were now pursuing such project themselves.
“People cannot be served through slogans and hollow claims, and the elements involved in the politics of baseless allegations have not given anything to the people except deprivation,” he said.
The MNAs who called on the CM included Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan and Dr Hafeezur Rehman Dareshak.
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