PML-N to convey Nawaz's plan to JUI-F chief today

Former PM proposes a series of activities instead of a one-off long march

LAHORE: Drafted by the former premier Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will propose a comprehensive roadmap of agitation movement to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday (today) to dislodge the PTI government, a well-placed source in Nawaz-league revealed.

The source divulged that the plan drafted by Nawaz was somewhat different from the one envisaged by Fazl. It was claimed that it is a detailed strategy with a holistic approach that proposes a series of activities instead of embarking on one-off long march.

The PML-N source said, "We would expect Maulana Fazlur Rehman to consider the suggestions of our leader and alter his plan to brighten the chances of success".

Nawaz backs JUI-F march to clear confusion among PML-N

It was further revealed that if Fazl insisted to continue with his own plan then it would be difficult for PML-N to fully support him knowing that he had disregarded Nawaz's plan and that the PML-N supremo took him to be a very valuable ally.

It was reported that then PML-N might opt for token participation, which may be led by the party's general secretary, a proposal which was earlier discussed in the central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Sources claimed that earlier there were different opinions about the march in the party but with Nawaz's letter all the party leaders had come on the same page. Furthermore, everyone in the party agreed with Fazl's theory irrespective of his plan.

The said letter which was handed over by Nawaz during his hearing on Friday was read out to a high-level party meeting called by PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif at his residence where only selective leaders were invited.

The leaders were also strictly instructed not to share the content of the letter with the media. Many of the leaders were dropped from the meeting due to this fear.

Senior PML-N leader Senator Pervaiz Rashid who was a part of the previous huddle confirmed that he was not invited to this meeting.

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, while talking to media after the meeting said that PML-N will meet Fazl on Sunday to share the strategy that Nawaz had formulated regarding the Azadi March and shared in the letter with Shehbaz Sharif.

He also dispelled the notion of divisions among the PML-N leadership and said that Nawaz league was a democratic party which entertained open and inclusive discourse in the party meetings.

"Misconstruing such cherished practices and presenting a distorted account of them on media without confirming the concerned party officials is a condemnable and disappointing act," he said.

Iqbal clarified that as laid out by Nawaz on Friday PML-N supported JUI-F's Azadi March and backed the idea ever since its inception.

He said that the opposition was united in its resolve to support the rally.

"Because it is an initiative of the JUI-F chief, therefore, it is only his prerogative to lead the march," he said, evading the repeatedly asked question by the media that who would lead the march from the PML-N side to assess whether Shehbaz was onboard with the plan.

"All the opposition parties including the PML-N and PPP will formulate their strategies regarding the march in consultation with their party leadership," he said.

"Therefore, the recommendations and strategy proposed by Nawaz in the letter to Shehbaz will be shared with Fazl on Sunday after which the final decision will be shared with the media," he added.

He said that there should be no ambiguity that PML-N had one ideology and source of political direction which stemmed from Nawaz.

"Any notion or proposition otherwise is a wish of the enemies of PML-N and a figment of their imagination," he stressed.

Iqbal condemned the politicization of Shehba'z health keeping in view its repercussions on his participation in the rally.

He told the media that the PML-N president had severe back issues which everyone was aware of.

JUI-F rally exposes cracks in PML-N

Surprisingly, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb earlier this week, while talking to The Express Tribune had confirmed that Shehbaz's health had improved and he was fully capable of leading the march.

According to Marriyum, Shehbaz has formed a four-member delegation under PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal comprising Amir Muqam, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Pervaiz Rashid.

The delegation would meet Fazl in Peshawar today and appraise him about PML-N's strategy over its participation in Azadi March in the light of Nawaz's letter.

Marriyum, when asked about Nawaz's agitation plan, said she cannot comment on the contents of the letter until the meeting between PML-N and JUI-F took place.