Staff Report
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has ruled out his immediate return to Pakistan due to the unsuitable political situation in the country.
The political tension continues to heighten in the country after Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi sent a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly to Governor Balighur Rehman, with PTI’s resolve to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the coming day.
A day earlier, the PML-N’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) asked Mr Sharif to join it as the general elections are scheduled to take place this year. However, the former premier said he couldn’t return amid the prevailing situation.
Maryam Nawaz is expected to fly back to Pakistan this month. The PML-N supreme leader said he would decide on his return after Maryam sends him a report on the political situation. The former three-time premier has directed the party leaders to start preparations for elections.
Nawaz Sharif calls Rana Sanaullah to London
Meanwhile, Mr Sharif has called Interior Minister to London for consultation. Who is also president of the PML-N s Punjab chapter, would be given an important task ahead of expected polls in the province.
Nawaz Sharif reportedly conveyed his displeasure with the interior minister during telephonic conversations before and after the confidence vote in the Punjab Assembly.
Sources privy to the development said that, who is also the party’s Punjab chapter president, will leave for London tonight.
Matters about the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly and the overall political situation of Punjab would come under discussion, they say.
According to sources, the two leaders will also discuss forming a parliamentary board to award tickets to candidates for elections in Punjab.
Earlier, it emerged that former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had sought the party’s recommendations for his and Maryam Nawaz’s return to Pakistan.
According to sources within PML-N, the party needs more senior leadership. “PML-N to suffer a major dent in upcoming elections if senior leadership does not return to Pakistan.”
Sources further say the PML-N senior leadership is expected to meet in a day or two to elaborate on recommendations for the return of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
In a statement, PML-N senior leader and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Friday that Maryam Nawaz would first return to the country. Then, once the election campaign began, Nawaz Sharif landed in the country to steer the campaign.
