Sharif confers with aides on ‘grouping' in ruling party

The rally, that was to kick-start PML-N's election campaign, has been delayed due to Tableeghi Ijetama in Raiwind


Rameez Khan November 04, 2017
Former prime minster Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO:FILE

LAHORE: Deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), conferred with his senior aides at his palatial Jati Umra residence on Saturday to discuss reported fragmentation in the ruling party.

Calls for a leadership change have risen to a crescendo in the ruling party, which has been beset with a leadership crisis following the disqualification of Sharif in the Panamagate case in July, this year. A federal minister publicly advised Sharif to step aside and make way for his younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, at the party’s helm.

However, at a recent party conclave in London, top PML-N leaders threw their weight behind the embattled Sharif, who returned to Pakistan from London last week to face a slew of graft cases against him and his family in an Islamabad accountability court.

Sharif’s top aides, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Chaudhry Muneer, came to meet him at his Jati Umra residence on Saturday. Sources say Sharif voiced concerns over reported groupings within the ruling party.

They decided to launch a mass-contact campaign for the 2018 general elections starting with a rally in Abbottabad on November 12. Schedule for future election rallies will be announced after the Abbottabad rally.

However, sources in the ruling party later revealed that the Abbottabad rally had been delayed. “The public gathering would now be held by the end of this month,” one source told The Express Tribune.

Is confrontation the only option for Sharif?

The rally has been delayed due to the annual Tableeghi Ijetama in Raiwind that will conclude on November 12, according to the sources. A large number of PML-N supporters are expected to attend the religious congregation that attracts tens of thousands of people from across the country and abroad.

The PML-N has planned political power shows across the country every three weeks, according to Senator Mushahidullah Khan. “We will also stage a power show in Peshawar,” he added.

The senator sought to downplay the rescheduling of the Abbottabad rally, saying it was not meant to launch the party’s mass-contact campaign for the next general elections. “It’s too early to kick-start mass-contact drives for the general elections.”

Mushahidullah said Sharif was also expected to fly to London after his next court hearing to attend to his wife under treatment for cancer at a British hospital.  “He plans to stay in the country for at least a couple of weeks.”

Saturday’s meeting took place amid reports that the government was planning to table a controversial constitutional amendment bill in parliament that proposes the right to appeal against Supreme Court orders in suo motu cases.

Govt plans vote on ‘lifeline’ legislation for former PM

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, however, said the Raiwind meeting discussed the issue of fresh delimitation of constituencies. Initially, all parliamentary leaders had concurred on fresh delimitations, but later the leaders from Sindh backed out voicing certain reservations. “We have convened another meeting on Monday to address their grievances,” he added.

Speaking to the media in his constituency, Sadiq said there was no room for a government of technocrats in the Constitution. “Those talking about such a government do not want stability in the country,” he added.

In an oblique reference to Sharif’s political arch-nemesis, Imran Khan, the speaker said those day-dreaming about premiership would be disappointed. “Their dreams of premature exit of the PML-N government would never come true,” he said.
On his part, Saad Raffique advised the PTI and the PPP to stop staging rallies and hurling abuses at the PML-N and instead focus on legislation in parliament so that the general elections could be held on time.

“A delay in getting the constitutional amendment passed would delay fresh delimitation of constituencies… and that might result in delay in the general elections which is not good for the democratic process,” he told the media.

He said that Punjab, the PML-N’s political powerhouse, had lost nine seats of National Assembly – seven general and two reserved seats. “Still we have accepted the decision. Now, others should follow suit,” he added.
Rafique said the PTI chairman’s agenda was clear but PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was working on an unknown agenda. “Whatever their agenda, it should not undermine the democratic process in the country,” he insisted.

Asked about the PML-N’s desperate attempts to arrange a meeting between Sharif and Zardari, he said: “We are not desperate for a meeting… but a politician should never slam the door shut on political dialogue.”

To a follow-up question regarding Sharif’s refusal to meet Zardari after his outburst against the military, Rafique said that it was not a wise decision.

COMMENTS (3)

AQ | 6 years ago | Reply Corrupt has been caught but still roaming around like a king it's a slap on tax payers face.
Aamir | 6 years ago | Reply I like these situations, as it helps political parties to clean themselves!
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