Sharif brothers at the opposition leaders chamber in NA. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The decision of the former ruling party to stay away from the APC was taken in a meeting between former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. However, a PML-N delegation led by Raja Zafarul Haq will attend the meeting while a similar second-tier delegation will represent the PPP.
Nawaz embraces Shehbaz. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Reportedly, soon after the Sharifs excused themselves from the meeting, the second biggest opposition party, PPP, also announced their party chiefs will not attend the conference either. The decision by chiefs of both main opposition parties to not attend the expected APC has apparently lowered its significance.
Fazl fails to win over Sharif
Fazl, who has held several meetings with the top brass of both the PPP and PML-N in an attempt to woo them to join his APC, was assured by the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari that he would attend it whereas Sharif, while initially showing reluctance to attend, on Fazl’s insistence asked for time to consult with younger brother and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif.
Subsequently, Sharif after discussing the subject with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly decided not to attend the proposed moot.
The meeting that lasted nearly one and a half hour took place at the National Assembly and was attended by Hamza Shehbaz, Raja Zafarul Haq, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Asif and Ayaz Sadiq.
It was decided that instead of the Sharifs, a five-member delegation, headed by Haq, will attend the APC consisting Asif, Rafique, Sadiq and Ahsan Iqbal.
During his two-hour stay at the National Assembly, Sharif also met PPP leader Khurshid Shah where it was decided that in case Shehbaz is not made the PAC chairman, the opposition shall not let it function.
NA session marred by opposition boycott
According to a well-placed source who participated in the PML-N huddle said the former prime minister believes it is not the best time for party chiefs to form a joint front against the government.
“Sharif believes the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government should be given more time to function and all the opposition parties should wait for a suitable opportunity,” revealed the source, adding it was believed if party leaders united against the government, PTI could use it to its advantage by shifting blame of their incompetence on the opposition.
The source further said, “The government would build an argument that the opposition was creating hurdles in their way of making Naya Pakistan,” adding the purpose of the APC was to create harmony in the opposition benches.
Meanwhile, the high-powered meeting of PML-N, which also marks the first time Sharif had entered the Parliament House in over a year, entrusted former interior minister Iqbal with the task of restructuring the party by making him the convener of Central Organising Committee.
This committee will, according to sources, comprise 22 members which will be formulated in the coming few days.
“It is a routine practice for parties to re-assess their internal structure after every election,” said Iqbal, adding that a few inactive members will be replaced with new, active members while empty party slots will be filled in and party performance reviewed.
The former interior minister said Sharif is not attending the conference as he is still grieving the loss of his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
“To my knowledge former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani will be heading the PPP delegation,” revealed Iqbal, adding that since influential delegations from both the PPP and PML-N are attending, the APC maintains its significance.
However, the PPP soon denied formation of any delegation. According to Farhat Ullah Babar, party will announce its delegation only after it receives an invitation to the APC.
“Following Sharif’s decision to pull out of the APC, Zardari has also decided to keep his distance,” said Babar confirming that the former president will not be attending the conference. The decision on whether party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto will attend the APC or not has yet not been taken.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ