PML-N leaders mulling over leaving govt, demand Nawaz Sharif’s return

After a humiliating defeat in Punjab by-elections, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has started mulling over leaving the government.

After many leaders towed Nawaz Sharif’s recommendation to leave the government, the group of leaders on Shehbaz Sharif’s side opposed it. Sources said that Khawaja Asif and some other leaders opposed leaving the government by PM Shehbaz Sharif after taking tough decisions. He was of the view that PML-N faced the brunt of taking tough economic decisions which resulted in the defeat of the political party in the by-elections.

Other PML-N leaders also said that the political party should not leave the rulership until making some grounds for going into the next elections, otherwise, it will face more political disasters in case of early polls.

They also recommended leaving the government on the condition that Nawaz Sharif returns home to lead the political campaign, sources revealed.

Yesterday, Nawaz Sharif contacted PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz by telephone after the immediate defeat in the by-elections in which they discussed the political situation. It was decided in the telephonic conversation that the PML-N should resign from the federal government.

Sources told News 360 that after talking to Maryam Nawaz, ex-PM Nawaz Sharif contacted the PML-N Senior VP Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and both leaders agree that they should leave the government. PM Shehbaz Sharif has been blamed for the defeat, they agreed.

An important meeting was held in the London Secretariat under the chairmanship of PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif which was also attended by former finance minister Ishaq Dar. In the meeting, it was emphasised that Shahbaz Sharif should leave the government.

In the meeting held in London, it was agreed that the entire responsibility for this defeat lies on Shehbaz Sharif because the coalition government is destroying the PML-N’s narrative and the PML-N voters were fed up with the leadership.

Nawaz Sharif contacted PM Sharif after the meeting 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 People’s 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 added that Nawaz Sharif also advised Shehbaz Sharif that PML-N should leave the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance and the government immediately and focus on own political campaigning.