LAHORE - The PML-N central executive committee will be meeting in Lahore today to discuss what the party leadership calls “unjustified arrest” of Mian Shehbaz Sharif and work out the largest opposition party’s future course of action.
Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif will preside over the meeting, which will be his first political activity after the death of his spouse Kulsoom Nawaz (Sept 11) and his release along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar from the Adiala jail on Sept 19 when a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in the Avenfield reference.
Jolted by the death of Begum Kulsoom, the former prime minister was in no mood to take part in any political activity in the foreseeable future. However, the arrest of his brother Shehbaz Sharif has forced him to review his thinking, said Senator Pervaiz Rashid, one of the closest aides of the three-time prime minister.
Talking to The Nation on Sunday, Pervaiz Rashid said the CEC meeting participants would exchange views on the strategy they should follow in the Senate, the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures.
The CEC members would decide to move resolutions, calling attention notices and adjournment motions in the elected houses, said the former information minister.
He said it was regrettable that Mian Nawaz Sharif was arrested before the general elections and now when by-elections on over two dozen National and provincial seats were due to be held on October 14, the PML-N president and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif has been arrested by the NAB.
“This shows the PTI is not sure it can win the by-elections despite using all illegal means”
Asked what would precisely be the target of the PML-N strategy, Pervaiz Rashid said: “To restrain the government from its vindictive policies and garner public support for the party.”
In response to a question, the former information minister said that formation of an opposition alliance was also under consideration.
He was happy that JUI-F and Awami National Party, and even PPP’s Khursheed Shah, had expressed fullest support for the PML-N.
On the other hand, the ruling PTI had not been supported by its allies, not even the PML-Q. This, Pervaiz Rashid argued, manifested that even the coalition partners were not with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He was also happy that many political parties and civil society had strongly opposed the arrest of the former Punjab chief minister.
FAMILY MEETS SHEHBAZ
Meanwhile, Mian Nawaz Sharif and some other family members met former Punjab chief minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif at the NAB offices here on Sunday.
The NAB chairman had granted special permission to the family members for the purpose. In addition to the former prime minister, those who met Mian Shehbaz were Nusrat Shehbaz (wife), Hamza and Salman (sons).
Earlier, Hamza and Salman met Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence and discussed the situation arising out of the arrest of their father in Ashiana Housing scam. Maryam Nawaz was also present during the meeting.
Grief-stricken Nawaz resumes political activities today