PML-N huddle in London decides minus-Nawaz formula not acceptable
Talking to media after arriving in London, former PM said a weak government results in a weak state
October 30, 2017
LONDON: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership's high-level huddle in London reiterated its support for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and said a minus Nawaz formula is not acceptable.
The meeting was held at the residence of Hasan Nawaz and was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hasan Fawad.
Nawaz, speaking to the media after the meeting, said the Panama Papers trial was not fair and he understands what is going on currently.
He also rubbished rumours of any rifts within the party and added that there is no divide in the PML-N. He further said he would return to Pakistan on November 2 to appear before the accountability court.
It was reportedly said during the high-level huddle that Nawaz’s disqualification on the basis of Iqama had rallied supporters around him as the party feels he was not given a fair trial in the Panama Papers case.
The participants of the meeting also said that there is no space in the political landscape of the country for any unconstitutional step and there is no support from any quarter for such measures.
The high-level huddle also stated that the media was being used to create propaganda.
The three corruption references filed against the Sharif family by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were an important point of discussion during the meeting, sources told Geo News.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met former premier, Nawaz Sharif.
PM Abbasi talking to the media Oct 30, 2017. Photo: Geo News
Talking to the media, Abbasi said he is in London on a private visit and his meeting was part of the routine.
Nawaz arrived in London from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia late Sunday to hold a high-level party huddle.
The former prime minister said that he will return to Pakistan soon. While lauding the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Nawaz welcomed the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.
Nawaz was responding to questions posed by the media after arriving in London.
While responding to a question, he said that the stock exchange of the country took a nosedive shortly after his ouster by the Supreme Court.
The former premier said his dismissal caused instability in the country and the stock exchange plummeted by 10,000 to 12,000 points.
“What to speak of stability and progress if the elected leader of the country is ousted on the basis of Iqama [foreign work permit] and not Panama [Papers],” said Nawaz.
Nawaz further said that if a government becomes weak, then it decreases the strength of the state as well.
Condemning the attack on The News journalist Ahmed Noorani, Nawaz urged a thorough probe into the incident.
Nawaz, who was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and spend time with his mother, said that CPEC is progressing as planned.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in London, Prime Minister Abbasi said there is no rift among national institutions and he neither believed in conspiracy theories nor there was any room for those in the country.
He said both the political and military leadership is sitting together during the recent meeting with the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Islamabad and all of the country’s institutions are collectively playing their role for national development, he added.
Abbasi reiterated that there was no provision for a technocrat government in the country’s Constitution.
Last week, the accountability court hearing corruption references against the Sharif family issued bailable warrants for the former premier in the three references against him as he has lately been a no-show in the proceedings.
The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.
The hearing was then adjourned until November 3, with the last chance for the former premier to ensure his presence in court.
