PM, Shehbaz, other big guns to soon leave PML-N: Rasheed

LAHORE: Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed addressing media outside his residence on Friday night claimed that major political leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will soon leave the party.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chaudhry Nisar, Shehbaz Sharif, Saad Rafique and other big guns will desert the party amid uncertainty after party chief Nawaz Sharif was indicted on Friday, Rasheed said.

Earlier, Speaking in Geo Pakistan, the AML chief said it remains to be seen what decision the around 40 ruling party lawmakers, "who are wearing joggers", will make, adding that the entire party leadership from south Punjab is ready to leave the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Rasheed was one of the three petitioners in the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case.

Reports of disagreements between party members emerged after Nawaz was indicted in the three corruption cases under way against him and his family in an accountability court in light of the Supreme Court's judgment in the Panama Papers case.

Moreover, on Thursday, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada suggested that ex-prime minister step down as the party president until his problems disappear.

“It will be better for the PML-N if Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif takes over as the party president until Nawaz Sharif comes out of the problems,” said Pirzada, who hails from Bahawalpur.