LAHORE - The PML-N has dropped the name of its president, Shehbaz Sharif, for the contest of the prime minister’s slot against the PTI and is mulling the names of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
Before the elections, the PML-N had nominated former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif for the premier office in case the party won the polls. However, under the new political situation, the PML-N, being the second largest party, the PPP, the JUI-F, the MMA and the PkMAP have united and decided to sit on the opposition benches. The joint opposition decided at a meeting on Wednesday to contest the prime minister’s election against the PTI. It was also decided that the PML-N would name the candidate for this slot.
The PML-N sources say, given the current situation, the party is considering the names of Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Asif, instead of Shehbaz Sharif, for the contest of PM slot.
Shehbaz Sharif will, however, be the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
The sources say the final name for the contest of the PM slot will be announced after the Election Commission of Pakistan issues notifications of the winners of the July 25 polls.
