PML-N won’t respond to ‘dissenting voices’, say party leaders

Party will announce ticket allocations today: Marriyum

LAHORE: PML-N would not respond to the numerous dissenting voices, at least until the announcement of party tickets.

A senior party leader told The Express Tribune on Friday that the party would not be giving any statements regarding the detractors, most notably Zaeem Hussain Qadri and Chaudhry Nisar, “But if they created unavoidable circumstances, the party would officially react in a minimalist manner,” he warned.

Disgruntled leader Zaeem Qadri, who made headlines on Thursday for his outburst against core party leader Hamza Shehbaz, told The Express Tribune that he was not contacted by anyone from the party. Asked whether he would return if requested, he said that he would not answer any hypothetical question. He though revealed that he would hold another press conference next week.

The party source told The Express Tribune that the entire focus is towards the general elections. Referring to Qadri he said it was a problem of a constituency which will be resolved in the constituency. “It does not suite a party of national scale to respond to such allegations anyway,” the leader suggested.

He said the entire Zaeem Hussain Qadri’s episode was explained to party president Shehbaz Sharif, who arrived back from London on Friday.

He said that party might have overlooked his violation of party discipline by voicing his concern for a party ticket but with the kind of language he used for Hamza Shehbaz has brought down his chances of returning, the PML-N leader explained.



Regarding the fate of Zaeem Qadri, party spokesperson Maryium Aurangzeb told The Express Tribune that “the decision is to be taken by party president along with the other senior leadership.”

Former MNA Waheed Alam, whose ‘party ticket’ from NA-133 offended Zaeem, said that he [Zaeem Qadri] was not in his senses during his press conference.

Replying to Qadri, he said “this constituency belongs to Hamza, Maryam, Nawaz and Shehba. [Qadri] hopes to win from NA-133, but he is daydreaming." He added that Qadri has no support from chairmen of the area.

Every word he said on Thursday was a lie, Waheed asserted.

"If only boot polishers were given party tickets, then how did he survive in PML-N this long?" he asked. He said that as someone with a 20-year long association with the party, he should have shown respect and restraint.

Tickets today

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will announce its allocation of party tickets today (Saturday), said party spokesperson Aurangzeb.

The decision came after a meeting presided by the party president Shehbaz Sharif here on Friday over the decision to finalise party nominees for July 25th.



Issues related to tickets allotment were discussed in detail during the meeting.

Leaders from different provinces and various districts of the Punjab attended the meeting. According to party sources senior leaders have expressed reservations with distribution of party tickets. However, the sources, on the other hand, have also hinted further delay in the announcement of party tickets.

Addressing the meeting Shehbaz said the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) support PML-N and will reject Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) because of their low performance. “People of K-P and Sindh have rejected Niazi and Zardari because of their incompetence and incapacity. We have served people and they have confidence in our performance whereas PTI has nothing to show.”

Nawaz Sharif took pride in initiating hundreds of mega projects and have simultaneously saved millions of rupees, Shehbaz stressed. “If we get an opportunity in the next election, we shall work and deliver in K-P, Sindh and Balochistan as well,” he announced.

“It is to PMLN’s credit that we witness peace in the country. We have brought peace in Karachi and have restored the confidence of investors. Inshallah PML-N will win in all four provinces,” hoped Sharif.

In an apparent reaction to Zaeem Qadri’s allegation of favouritism in allotment of party ticket PML-N president said party tickets shall solely be distributed on the basis of merit, party discipline, loyalty and on recommendations of the parliamentary boards.