PML-N unveils future strategy

Shehbaz Sharif-led party to launch membership campaign in March

LAHORE: In order to strengthen its public support and to prepare itself for a possible movement against the government, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal laid out the future strategy of his party.

The former interior minister said that Maryum Nawaz would eventually head the party once she is done with the legal battles.

While talking to The Express Tribune, the Nawaz league leader remarked that his party would commence a membership campaign in March this year that would cash in on the massive support that PML-N had won in elections last year. The membership drive would be a mass contact move that PML-N had vowed to start in the December 30 convention.

Iqbal said that Nawaz league in the next six months would be holding divisional conventions and subsequently district wise conventions. The party would also hold central working committee meeting following the provincial working committee meetings to finalize its restructuring. The party spokesperson said that the purpose of the exercise was not only to start a mass contact movement but also reorganizing the party’s ranks and files.

Iqbal also expressed grave concerns about media reports of party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s health. He said that his party leadership was being subjected to a hostile treatment in prison. He claimed that both Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were being denied of medical check-ups and tests. Iqbal said that he came to know of Nawaz Sharif’s illness through the media.

The party spokesperson said he was not aware of the details of Maryam’s meeting with Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Nawaz Sharif was ill with severe headaches, flu and fever and was being denied meeting his physician.

Later, it was further reported that Maryam Nawaz met his father at Kot Lakhpat jail with special permission of the authorities.

The meeting, reportedly, lasted for about 40 minutes.

However, no party member confirmed either of the news.