Tale of two Sharifs: NAB, political alliances crux of meetings

Fazlur Rehman, Shehbaz meet; MMA, PML-N alliance likely

LAHORE/KARACHI: With the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references slowly engulfing the entire Sharif family into their fold, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif held a considerably long meeting on Friday to discuss the current situation with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The meeting taking place at Jati Umrah discussed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) political strategy as well as the alliances that they would form in the future.

NAB references were discussed at length during the meeting, especially after the formation of a three-member Supreme Court bench to hear NAB’s appeal against the Lahore High Court’s decision to quash the Hudabiya Paper Mills case against the Sharif family.

The census was also discussed during the meeting, and the commitment of holding elections on time was reiterated. According to sources, it was decided that the PML-N would start a mass-contact drive and let the matter be decided by the court of the people.

Reportedly, the party will hold a political gathering in Abbottabad on November 20 “to prove their mettle” to their opponents. The gathering was initially scheduled for November 12 but was postponed due to the Rawind Ijetama. Rallies will also be staged in Sheikhupura and Multan.

Furthermore, a coordination committee will be established very soon for electoral alliances which would work under the supervision of the Sharif brothers.

According to sources, the PML-N leadership has already started actively contacting the Pakistan Peoples Pakistan, the Muttahida Quomi Movement-Pakistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami and other parliamentary parties on legislative matters including the demarcation of constituencies and the new accountability law.

It was also reported that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on Shehbaz, on Friday. According to sources, Rehman hinted at a positive response for an alliance after the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal becomes active.

Rehman and Shehbaz discussed various matters of mutual interest while also talking about the current political scenario, deeming the demand for early elections impossible.

Shehbaz, while referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said they had failed to perform in their province and had the audacity to talk about holding elections early. He further criticised the PTI for not adequately dealing with dengue. He said “it is the need of the hour” to adopt a collective vision to take the country towards progress.

Shehbaz also visited the residence of senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed in Gulberg, Lahore. And Nawaz met Federal Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, his close aid Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal and other party leaders, spending a relatively busy day at his residence.

In addition, the ruling party has forwarded the issue of demarcation to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on the PPP’s demand. After the CCI meeting scheduled for November 13, the PML-N will take parliamentary parties into confidence.