LAHORE - PML-N President and former premier Nawaz Sharif has announced Punjab Chief Minister and his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif as the party candidate for the next prime minister of the country after the general elections 2018.

Nawaz Sharif made this announcement while presiding over a high-level meeting of the party which was held at Jati Umra yesterday, say media reports. The former premier highly eulogised the progressive and development vision of Shehbaz Sharif, describing him as the most suitable person for the next premiership of the party.

The decision taken by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was appreciated by the whole top brass of the party present at the meeting.

Nawaz Sharif who has been admirer of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision and his untiring efforts towards development projects told the meeting it was the need of the hour that Shehhaz Sharif should come forward and serve the country. He said in his view no other person than Shehbaz Sharif is more suitable candidate for the next premier of the country.

The former prime minister said that there may be difference of opinions on certain issues with Shehbaz Sharif, but his younger brother never went against the party discipline. He admitted sometimes he was obliged to accept Shehbaz Sharif’s viewpoint, but it is a fact that his younger brother neither disappointed him nor did he ever annoy him.

At this level, Punab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s nomination by Nawaz Sharif for the slot of prime minster is being viewed as a move that will go a long way to end the rumours of differences between the two brothers. The announcement, political observers say, will also serve to integrate the party and enable it to deal with the present and the coming issues in a concerted manner at the party level.

It may be mentioned that after the disqualification verdict against Nawaz Sharif on July 28, Nawaz Sharif had offered Shehbaz Sharif to contest the election in NA-120, Lahore, and become the prime minister after winning the seat. But Shehbaz Sharif had then preferred to stay as the Punjab chief minister. Nawaz Sharif had, therefore, appointed Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the next prime minister and the NA-120 contest was fought and won by Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif.

In October last, the party had named Shehbaz Sharif for the slot of prime minister, but a formal announcement was not made by the party president at that time.

SAJID ZIA