Sharif set to break political silence

PML-N says deposed PM to preside over CEC today

LAHORE: In a sudden change of tactics, deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday decided to restart his political activities by presiding over a crucial Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) meeting.

The PML-N called the Central Executive Committee to meet on today (Monday) to devise its future course of action in the wake of arrest of its party president Shehbaz Sharif.

Despite holding no party portfolio, Sharif, who is also the founding member of the party, will be presiding over the CEC meeting, according to the PML-N.

The deposed prime minster has been maintaining a low profile in politics ever since his daughter Maryam, son-in-law Muhammad Safdar and he were released from prison after being found guilty of corruption earlier this year by an accountability court in the Avenfield case.

It was further revealed that the decision of calling the CEC meeting was taken during a meeting of the Sharif family at Jati Umra.

Hamza Shehbaz and Salman Shehbaz briefed the elder Sharif on the legal position and merits of the Ashiana housing scam. Maryam Nawaz also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the party leadership termed the arrest of former Punjab chief minister, just days ahead of October 14 by-polls, ‘unacceptable’.



Later in the day, Sharif along with Hamza Shehbaz, Salman Shehbaz and other family members also meet with Shehbaz Sharif, who is on physical remand till October 16 at the NAB office.

The CEC meeting has been called to devise a strategy to tackle retaliatory measures by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the aftermath of Shehbaz’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Ashiana Housing scam.

The party, in addition to considering the legal course of action, would also be considering launching an agitation.

Sources revealed that PML-N was being pushed against the wall and left with no option but to retaliate. They said that the party has showed maximum restrain but it has to draw a line somewhere.

They said Monday’s meeting will also mark Sharif’s return to the political landscape of the country.

They said the decisions were being taken due to unrelenting verbal assaults from the PTI government on the PML-N and added the PML-N wanted to give the PTI at least 100 days “but it seems the PTI has other plans”.

Hamza, talking to the media outside Jati Umra, said, “The PTI government has made a mockery of law by arresting a national leader, who has served the province with honestly and wholeheartedly.”

The opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly added that the people have seen Imran Khan’s bitterness against the PML-N. “We will not let the government go for its actions.”

Shehbaz was sent on a 10-day physical remand after appearing before an accountability court in the Ashiana Housing scam case on Saturday.

The anti-graft watchdog arrested the PML-N president on October 5 in the multi-billion rupee housing scam after he was called to appear for a routine hearing in the Punjab Saaf Paani case.

Treason case

Sharif was reportedly said to have decided to appear before the Lahore High Court (LHC) in the treason case.

The case pertains to a controversial interview with an English daily was filed by civil society member Amina Malik through Advocate Azhar Siddique, seeking treason proceedings against Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and a journalist over revealing minutes of a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to the deposed prime minister.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb; however, denied the reports, stating, there were two court cases on Monday -- one of NAB and the other at the LHC and it has not been decided yet which hearing he would attend.