‘Nawaz in Pakistan key to PML-N’s survival’

Leaders want Nawaz back in Pakistan to lead party into next polls

After the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) dismal performance in the Punjab by-polls, the clash of narratives once again started within the party, but senior leaders made it clear that the incumbent coalition government will not opt for early elections, and instead complete their term until August 17, 2023.

In the background discussions, most of the PML-N leaders said that Nawaz Sharif should come back to Pakistan immediately and lead the party himself.

They believe that the PML-N should not go into general elections without the physical presence of elder Sharif in the country.

The popularity graph of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is going up and therefore it is the right time for Nawaz to come back to Pakistan and lead the party, they said.

As per the details, the higher leadership of the PML-N met at the residence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore to discuss the reasons for the party’s humiliating defeat in the by-polls. The PML-N could win only four of the 20 seats up for grab, as the PTI recorded an emphatic victory by securing 15 seats. The meeting chaired by Shehbaz Sharif, who also happens to be the party president, was also attended by federal ministers and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, whose government is in danger after the PTI’s landslide victory.

The meeting discussed the future course of action, including possible options to save CM Hamza-led Punjab government.

Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Atta Tarar, Malik Ahmad Khan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Awais Laghari, Rana Mashhood and Kh Salman Rafique were also present.

On the occasion, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah tabled the report of the by-polls. It was stated in the report that the PML-N’s old ticket holders didn’t accept the newcomers who deviated from the PTI. Sanaullah briefed the meeting that old ticket holders didn’t run the election campaign, which turned out to be a major reason behind the party’s defeat.

Moreover, the participants were told that the recent wave of inflation and hike in petroleum prices also became a reason for the PML-N’s defeat.

Sources told this scribe that most of the PML-N leaders want Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan to lead the party in the next elections. “Shehbaz, Hamza and Maryam [Nawaz] cannot counter the popularity wave of Imran Khan and therefore we believe that elder Sharif should be here before the general elections to lead the campaign,” said a PML-N leader, requesting anonymity.

Minute Mirror also learnt that most of the leaders also talked to Nawaz Sharif in London and told them that the party met a humiliating defeat for adopting a narrative of reconciliation with the establishment instead of going with the resistance. They were of the view that the PML-N won by-elections in all constituencies except one during the last three years just due to the narrative of resistance, which had now been adopted by Imran Khan.

The party also convened the meeting of the Central Executive Committee on the demand of senior leadership to discuss the future strategy. Moreover, the parliamentary party meeting of the PML-N will be held today at Model Town, in which Nawaz Sharif will participate through video link and the strategy of Punjab will be crafted.

Separately, talking to a private news channel, PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the government and its allies were confident of continuing to rule until their term ended.