LAHORE – PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has declared that Nawaz Sharif’s top priority is to lift the economic gloom from the lives of the people.
These remarks were delivered during a party meeting called to discuss the logistics of Nawaz’s return to Pakistan.
The statement from the party president lends credibility to claims that, upon his return, Nawaz will prioritise a public-oriented narrative of economy and law and order over his demand for accountability for those he feels responsible for his expulsion.
A statement from the party’s communications secretary quotes Shehbaz as saying that they are focusing all of their efforts on solving the people’s problems. He stressed the importance of reviving the economy, fostering national unity, and eliminating terrorism.
On Saturday, he presided over a meeting at his home in Lahore to discuss the party’s preparations for Nawaz’s reception on October 21.
In attendance were party chief organiser Maryam Nawaz, deputy general secretary Ata Tarrar, party president spokesperson Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, information secretary Marrium Aurangzeb, senior party leaders Pervez Rashid, Bilal Yasin, and Lahore president Saif Khokhar, and Punjab president Rana Sanaullah.
The leaders of the party met with the president to discuss the upcoming gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan.
The head of the party applauded the leaders’ energy and urged them to maintain open lines of communication with all party factions. He praised the active role played by Maryam and other leaders.
Making up a story
Party insiders said the leadership has decided to stop pushing its version of events over who is responsible for what. To avoid the appearance of a U-turn, Nawaz Sharif may make passing references to the issue in his remarks on occasion. The party’s primary goal is to find solutions to the problems that ordinary people are facing.
According to this leader, the recent press conferences and statements from party leaders like spokesperson Muhammad Zubair and Javed Latif show that they have come to this realisation.
He insisted that the agreement “has nothing to do with anything else” and that it was the result of internal discussions.
He added that the party has settled on a legal approach as well, but he could not go into detail about it.
The leader emphasised that the party would undoubtedly seek bail before his arrival, and that once that occurred, everything else would be easy.
He acknowledged the lack of prior cases in which an inmate was granted protected bail but expressed optimism that this could set a new standard.
In addition, he claimed that the narrative committee, of which he is a part, had completed its work and provided feedback, and that this information had likely been given to the leadership by Marrium Aurangzeb.
To the best of his knowledge, the committee met three times, which he also acknowledged.
