Though Lahore’s political leaders say they don’t know why a meeting was reconvened, they insist that plans to welcome Nawaz Sharif on October 21 haven’t changed and that they’re making preparations to do so. This comes as the PML-N has remained silent about the circumstances surrounding Shehbaz Sharif’s sudden departure to London shortly after returning to Pakistan.

Many members of his own party are curious about the likely motivations behind Party President Shehbaz’s visit to London to see his brother Nawaz less than 48 hours after his return to Pakistan.
An MNA from Punjab has spoken up, saying that they, too, have heard rumours that Shehbaz left to carry a message from the powers that be telling him to change his plan.
One party leader suggested that the only thing that could possibly warrant such a meeting is the party’s legal strategy in regards to the possibility of relief from the court in light of the new chief justice at the helm, and the establishment’s willingness to extend an olive branch in this regard.
It was speculated that the gathering was about the former party leaders launching a new political organisation.
However, former PML-N leader and current Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi dispelled this speculation by clarifying that he was joining a media house rather than a political organisation.
However, in a written response to The Express Tribune, former PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that he was actually trying to convince Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, and others to consider forming a new party because “politics of today has lost its purpose and that politicians and political parties are least concerned with issues of the masses.”
According to former federal minister Javeed Latif, Nawaz summoned Shehbaz to London for a series of meetings that required his presence. According to him, Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in London on time.
He added that Nawaz would still be coming back on October 21 as planned. He predicted a landslide victory for the PML-N.
PML-N Since Maryam was coming to London and the ECP had issued an election plan, Deputy Secretary General Ataullah Tarar suggested a personal meeting was necessary.
Some topics, he noted, are off-limits for phone conversations.
When asked why the party’s narrative had shifted, he explained that Nawaz had previously been critical of the role of those responsible for the destruction of Pakistan.
In response to a question about someone other than former COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa, whom his party president has repeatedly complimented, Tarar stated, “our narrative has always been development first,” adding that the party’s future course remains to be seen.
Tarar said he could not discuss the party’s legal strategy regarding Nawaz, but that they would do everything in their power to secure Nawaz’s release on bail so that the party could carry out its current plan to welcome their leader at Minar-i-Pakistan.
The PML-N went from vituperating against the establishment in 2021 to lavishly praising the same military commanders after gaining power, thus Nawaz’s decision to begin a tirade against those previous heads again with elections around the corner was both surprising and perplexing.
If the PML-N’s rhetoric is any indication of their closeness to the establishment, then Nawaz was clearly showing off his power.
Even senior party members have voiced concern about the impact the recent shift in the party’s line and length could have on their ambitions.
Waheed Alam, a former member of the National Assembly from Lahore, claimed that they had no idea what had prompted the former premier to travel to London.
He claimed that a meeting was held on Thursday and that the original October 21st plan was still in effect.
Similarly, ex-MNA Dr. Nisar Cheema stressed that no decisions had been made and that he and his colleagues had no idea why they were gathering.