Nawaz, Shehbaz reject 'pressure’

Premier likely to discuss political scene with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif during trip

LONDON:

As political crisis festers back home, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have decided that all decisions concerning the political affairs of the country will be taken at the ruling party’s will and judgement “without caving under any pressure from anyone”, sources said on Wednesday.

Both asserted that no pressure will be accepted in the ruling coalition’s decisions regarding political matters and also held consultations on hot-button issues, including the army chief’s appointment and the upcoming general elections.
The decision was taken during a meeting held at the elder Sharif’s residence in London, Avenfield House.

The meeting came as tensions run high on the political front back home and the country continues to reel from the extraordinary sequence of events in recent weeks, including PTI chief Imran Khan’s undeterred march on Islamabad and the attempt on his life last week that triggered nationwide protests.

Sources also shared that the Sharif brothers also discussed the economic situation, the future course of action and the party’s strategy amid strong headwinds.

The prime minister is expected to stay in London for another day.

It may be mentioned here that a day earlier, in a letter to CJP Umar Ata Bandial, PM Shehbaz termed the tense law and order situation following the gun attack on Imran a “serious threat” to the solidarity of the country.

He also asked the CJP to form a judicial commission comprising all available judges to unearth the facts behind the assassination bid on the former premier.
The prime minister had left for London on Tuesday on a private visit after attending the 27th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb announced the PM's trip late on Tuesday night, stating that the premier had left for the United Kingdom on a private plane for a private visit.

The PM and the PML-N chief are also expected to discuss rival party chief Imran Khan's march toward the capital.

This is the prime minister's second visit to the city since September when he met Nawaz a day after arriving in London to attend the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Following the prime minister's previous visit, former financial czar Ishaq Dar had taken over as Pakistan's finance minister again in a desperate move by the bigwigs of the PML-N not only to revive the country’s faltering economy but to regain its lost political capital ahead of the next general elections. The minister's return to office was at the time expected to pave the way for the return of Nawaz Sharif.

However, the much-anticipated stability that had been eagerly sought by the PML-N remains far off.

Meanwhile, the country's political temperature has hit a boiling point after PTI chief Imran Khan announced that his party will be returning to the streets to resume its long march on Islamabad, which was disrupted after an attempt on his life, from Thursday (today) — exactly from the point he had a brush with death three days ago.