Nawaz Sharif’s return has saddened many naysayers: Maryam

Says reports of rifts within Sharif family are totally wrong and elements with such expectations will bite the dust

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has said her father’s return to Pakistan has saddened many naysayers who were hoping otherwise.

Speaking during an informal discussion with the media on Thursday while touring the recently won NA-120 constituency by her mother Kulsoom Nawaz in Lahore, Maryam said authority and rule are the prerogative of the Almighty only and no human has the strength for keeping anyone out of the power corridors, Express News reported.

“Only people decide about the leadership [of the country] and with masses’ support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will again assume power in 2018 [general elections],” she said.

Although Nawaz Sharif had to return home despite expectations of many, however, some people were disappointed on the development, said the former first daughter.

Won't take dictation on minus formula now, says Nawaz Sharif

“In the same manner, those spreading rumours about rifts in the [Sharif] family will be disappointed… reports of any such rifts are totally wrong and elements with such expectations will bite the dust,” she added.

The statement comes the same day Nawaz Sharif reached Islamabad from London to appear before the accountability court in a NAB reference filed against him, his daughter and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar. The court had earlier issued bailable warrants against the former premier for having failed to appear in two hearings.

Nawaz arrives in Islamabad, escorted to Punjab House by ASF

Despite refuting statements from members of Sharif family, rumours of a rift within the family were rife over PML-N reins. The party had to issue a statement after a high-level party huddle in London, clarifying the reports saying the party was united under Nawaz.

In the meeting, Sharif reportedly sounded unhappy, mentioning that senior cabinet members and party leaders were openly criticising his policies and putting their weight behind Shehbaz.

Recently, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Pirzada publically stated more than once that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz, should take over the party given that the former premier was facing serious cases ordered by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.

Moreover, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had urged his party leadership to “shun the state of confusion and focus on the larger interest of the country and the party, instead of individuals”.

London huddle: Nawaz Sharif prefers 'confrontation to consultation'

Both leaders are said to be enjoying cordial relations with the Punjab chief minister, and the elder Sharif believed that their recent statements arrived with the silent approval of the younger Sharif.

However, Shehbaz reportedly assured his elder brother in the recent London meeting that he did not have any plans to corner him or create his own party faction – an obvious reference to the much-discussed possibility of emergence of a ‘Shehbaz League’ out of the ‘Nawaz League’.