Efforts afoot to reconcile Sharif brothers
PML-N bigwigs seek to arrange meeting between Nawaz and Shehbaz in Lahore
Coming months filled with promise of political upheaval. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Amid widening gulf within the ruling camp, efforts are afoot to arrange a meeting between the two Sharifs in Lahore in a bid to iron out their “differences”.
Currently in London, Shehbaz Sharif – the Punjab Chief Minister – is expected to arrive in Pakistan soon while Nawaz Sharif – the deposed PM and PML-N President – is in Islamabad, having returned from the British capital on Thursday to face the courts.
Reports suggest that the elder Sharif is set to leave for London soon, and has been asked to meet his younger brother before embarking on the London journey.
Senior leaders of PML-N are trying to arrange a meeting between the two Sharifs in Lahore, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will lead the mediation efforts between the two brothers, according to sources. Abbasi flew to London on Friday to attend a conference. There, he also met the Punjab CM, and the two sides reportedly discussed the proposed meeting between the Sharifs.
The PML-N chief landed in Islamabad on Thursday and since then had been staying in the federal capital.
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Senior party leaders are of the view that Sharif should spend time in Lahore and interact with the leadership of the party’s provincial chapter — something he had been reluctant to do, lately, according to insiders.
Before arriving in Pakistan, Sharif had plans to land in Lahore but he revised his schedule thrice before finally deciding to land in the federal capital. This had much to do with the former premier’s unwillingness to meet the Punjab CM and his aides, said the insiders.
A few days back, the former PM, the incumbent PM, the Punjab CM and other senior party leaders huddled in London, but the meeting reportedly did not prove as good as projected in the media.
Reportedly, the senior Sharif flatly refused to listen to the advice the PM and the Punjab CM to avoid confrontation with state institutions. Moreover, the deposed premier was also unhappy with the Punjab CM and his son Hamza Sehbabz’s cold response to the reconciliation efforts of Maryam Nawaz.
During the meetings in London, Shehbaz was said to have minced no words in assuring his elder brother that he always stood by his side and would continue to do so, but also said that the way loyalists were marginalised in the party at the expense of promoting the ‘paratroopers’ was costing the PML-N dearly.
Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's very own Macbeth
The former premier was further urged by his younger brother that he needed to differentiate between those who sacrificed for the party in the past to keep it intact and those who brought the party to the point where it was today — on the verge of isolation.
The elder Sharif reportedly sounded unhappy mentioning that senior cabinet members and party leaders were openly criticising his policies and putting their weight behind his younger brother.
Some sources said that senior party leaders – including PM Abbasi, party Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Khawaja Saad Rafique and others who were enjoying good terms with both Sharifs – believed that a meeting between the two Sharifs would send a strong message across: that the party leadership was united under Sharif, the party president.
“There are differences but they shouldn’t become too apparent to become the talk of the town. Mian Sahib [Nawaz Sharif] needs to show that he wields all political strength from his major support base of Punjab and that the party’s top ranks are united regardless of differences,” said an insider.
Since landing in Pakistan, the deposed PM has made hard-hitting statements to target state institutions, judiciary in particular. He had been reportedly advised by the federal government functionaries to review his stance, which he has apparently not.
Deposed PM challenges disqualification in SC
Speaking to The Express Tribune, political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi said the former PM was in a defiant mood and had aggressive plans.
“Countrywide agitation in [Nawaz] Sharif’s support [would] best serve his motives, which is unlikely [to happen] due to the lack of public support. Mass mobilisation in show of his political power is the policy which has failed to work so far,” he said.
“The ruling camp is waiting for March to attain majority in the Senate. If that happens and the PML-N goes to do legislation to corner state institutions like judiciary and security establishment, the consequences will be disastrous,” he warned.
Amid widening gulf within the ruling camp, efforts are afoot to arrange a meeting between the two Sharifs in Lahore in a bid to iron out their “differences”.
Currently in London, Shehbaz Sharif – the Punjab Chief Minister – is expected to arrive in Pakistan soon while Nawaz Sharif – the deposed PM and PML-N President – is in Islamabad, having returned from the British capital on Thursday to face the courts.
Reports suggest that the elder Sharif is set to leave for London soon, and has been asked to meet his younger brother before embarking on the London journey.
Senior leaders of PML-N are trying to arrange a meeting between the two Sharifs in Lahore, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will lead the mediation efforts between the two brothers, according to sources. Abbasi flew to London on Friday to attend a conference. There, he also met the Punjab CM, and the two sides reportedly discussed the proposed meeting between the Sharifs.
The PML-N chief landed in Islamabad on Thursday and since then had been staying in the federal capital.
Panamagate saga ends: Prime Minister sent packing
Senior party leaders are of the view that Sharif should spend time in Lahore and interact with the leadership of the party’s provincial chapter — something he had been reluctant to do, lately, according to insiders.
Before arriving in Pakistan, Sharif had plans to land in Lahore but he revised his schedule thrice before finally deciding to land in the federal capital. This had much to do with the former premier’s unwillingness to meet the Punjab CM and his aides, said the insiders.
A few days back, the former PM, the incumbent PM, the Punjab CM and other senior party leaders huddled in London, but the meeting reportedly did not prove as good as projected in the media.
Reportedly, the senior Sharif flatly refused to listen to the advice the PM and the Punjab CM to avoid confrontation with state institutions. Moreover, the deposed premier was also unhappy with the Punjab CM and his son Hamza Sehbabz’s cold response to the reconciliation efforts of Maryam Nawaz.
During the meetings in London, Shehbaz was said to have minced no words in assuring his elder brother that he always stood by his side and would continue to do so, but also said that the way loyalists were marginalised in the party at the expense of promoting the ‘paratroopers’ was costing the PML-N dearly.
Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's very own Macbeth
The former premier was further urged by his younger brother that he needed to differentiate between those who sacrificed for the party in the past to keep it intact and those who brought the party to the point where it was today — on the verge of isolation.
The elder Sharif reportedly sounded unhappy mentioning that senior cabinet members and party leaders were openly criticising his policies and putting their weight behind his younger brother.
Some sources said that senior party leaders – including PM Abbasi, party Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Khawaja Saad Rafique and others who were enjoying good terms with both Sharifs – believed that a meeting between the two Sharifs would send a strong message across: that the party leadership was united under Sharif, the party president.
“There are differences but they shouldn’t become too apparent to become the talk of the town. Mian Sahib [Nawaz Sharif] needs to show that he wields all political strength from his major support base of Punjab and that the party’s top ranks are united regardless of differences,” said an insider.
Since landing in Pakistan, the deposed PM has made hard-hitting statements to target state institutions, judiciary in particular. He had been reportedly advised by the federal government functionaries to review his stance, which he has apparently not.
Deposed PM challenges disqualification in SC
Speaking to The Express Tribune, political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi said the former PM was in a defiant mood and had aggressive plans.
“Countrywide agitation in [Nawaz] Sharif’s support [would] best serve his motives, which is unlikely [to happen] due to the lack of public support. Mass mobilisation in show of his political power is the policy which has failed to work so far,” he said.
“The ruling camp is waiting for March to attain majority in the Senate. If that happens and the PML-N goes to do legislation to corner state institutions like judiciary and security establishment, the consequences will be disastrous,” he warned.