'Nawaz is in high spirits'

Sharif family, PML-N and PPP leaders meet former premier at Kot Lakhpat Jail

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and members of the Sharif family met with Nawaz Sharif at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Thursday, where he was stated to be in high spirits.

Members from Sharif family, including Maryam Nawaz, her son Junaid Safdar, Nawaz's mother Begum Shamim and his nephew and opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz met with the former premier in the jail.

Senior PML-N leader including Saleem Raiz, Tehmina Daultana, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Tariq Fazal Chaudary, Ameer Muqam, Danial Aziz, Khawaja Ahmad Hasan, Ghazali Saleem Butt, Khawaja Imran Nazir and others also visited him.

Pakistan People’s leaders Abdul Qadir Gilani and Ali Haider Gilani, both sons of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gillani were among others to meet Nawaz. Another PPP leader from Karachi Shah Jahan Baloch also met with Sharif and announced his joining of the PML-N.

According to the political leaders, Nawaz was disappointed with the deteriorating economic situation of the country but otherwise he was in high spirits. “Nawaz Sharif was in good mood and seemed fresh,” Senator Saleem Raiz said after the meeting.

“We assured Nawaz Sharif that he would be with his workers in a couple of days,” he said, adding that the people are remembering the days of Nawaz Sharif government. He said that people were not only disappointed at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s performance.

Baloch said that he was happy to join the party because the PML-N put development of the country above personal interests. I’m happy to work for a leader, who does not compromise on principles,” adding that he had invited Sharif to hold his first jalsa in Liyari after his release from the jail.

National Assembly member (MNA) Perveiz Malik said that Nawaz reposed his complete confidence in Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership. “Nawaz Sharif also believes that unity in the opposition benches is the need of the hour,” he said.

According to Malik, Nawaz expressed his sorrow over the sorry state of affairs of the country and expressed the hope that the government would amend its ways and work for improving lives of the common man.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Tehmina Daultana and Ameer Muqam criticised the government for changing policies. “We have given this government a chance but it seems that government itself wants to fall down.”