After the humiliating defeat in the Punjab by-elections, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) London leadership has asked Shehbaz Sharif to resign from the government. According to News360 sources, Shehbaz Sharif is being blamed for the defeat in Punjab.
In the by-elections held yesterday on 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has won a clear victory on 15 seats and completely defeated the 11-party alliance. In the whole situation, the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League (N) London has met yesterday.
Sources told News360 that immediately after the defeat in the Punjab by-elections, Nawaz Sharif contacted PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz by telephone and discussed the whole situation in detail in which it was decided that the PML-N should resign from the federal government.
After talking to Maryam Nawaz, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif contacted the senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and both leaders agree that the political party should leave the government immediately.
Sources added that Shehbaz Sharif has been blamed for the defeat in the conversation between the two leaders.
An important meeting was held in the London Secretariat under the chairmanship of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in which former finance minister Ishaq Dar was also present. In the meeting, it was emphasised that Shahbaz Sharif should leave the government immediately.
In the meeting held in London, it was agreed that the entire responsibility for the defeat lies on Shahbaz Sharif, because the coalition government is countering the PML-N’s narrative. The PML-N voters were fed up with the leadership which led to the defeat in recent Punjab by-polls.
He then contacted PM Shehbaz Sharif by telephone and asked him to resign from his position. In the discussion between the two leaders, it has been decided that before the dissolution of the government, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other party leaders will be taken into confidence.
Sources said that Nawaz Sharif has advised Mian Shehbaz Sharif that PML-N should leave the alliance and the government in the Centre immediately. It was also deliberated to take a solo flight so that the political party could mobilise its own vote bank.