PM consults elder brother Nawaz on political chessboard

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Sunday, a day after arriving in London to attend the state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.

Shehbaz, also the president of the PML-N meet with his elder brother at the office of his nephew Hussain Nawaz, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Shehbaz’s son Suleman Shahbaz were also present during the meeting.

The PML-N said on its twitter handle that the two leaders discussed the ongoing current political and economic situation in Pakistan, along with other issues. PML-N Quaid met with prime minister of Pakistan… Discussion held on the overall situation of the country, it said.

Shehbaz reached London late on Saturday to attend the state funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II at the invitation of the British government. He would represent Pakistan at the funeral scheduled to take place on Monday (today).

At the airport, he was received by David Gordon-MacLeod, special representative of the British Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release that the after attending the funeral, the prime minister would proceed to the US.

Read PM arrives in London to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

The prime minister is scheduled to visit New York from September 19-23 to attend the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During the visit, he would meet several world leaders besides addressing the General Assembly on September 23.

According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz would highlight the challenges in wake of the recent climate-induced catastrophic floods in Pakistan. “He will outline concrete proposals for collectively tackling the existential threat posed by climate change,” it said.

“The prime minister will also share Pakistan’s position and perspective on regional and global issues of concern, including Jammu and Kashmir, which is one of the long-standing unresolved disputes on the UN agenda, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

On the sidelines of the UNGA session, the Foreign Office said, the prime minister would participate in a closed-door Leaders Gathering on COP-27, bringing together select world leaders to discuss climate change.

He would also attend the ‘Global Food Security Summit’, being jointly organised by the African Union, European Union and the United States. During his participation, the prime minister would be accompanied by foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and others.

“These will be important platforms to deliberate on effective measures required at the global level for addressing the two most pressing challenges confronting the international community today,” the Foreign Office said.

Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz will hold a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, including the UNGA President, the UN Secretary-General as well as heads of international organisations, financial institutions and philanthropic organisations.

“The prime minister’s participation in the UNGA session is a manifestation of Pakistan’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, with the UN playing a central role in international affairs for promoting peace and prosperity worldwide,” the Foreign Office added.

“Both in its national capacity and as the current Chair of the largest international grouping of developing countries – the Group of 77 and China – as well as the current Chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Pakistan will serve as the collective voice of the Global South to promote international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter,” it said.

During the visit, Shehbaz will attended the receptions to be hosted by the UN secretary-general and the US president Joe Biden for the world leaders. In New York, the prime minister will also hold interactions with the international media.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would also have an extensive programmes, attending various high-level meetings and events, bilateral meetings with a number of his counterparts, media and think-tank interactions.
He would chair the G-77 and China Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers, OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers, and participate in the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)