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| 09 April 2004 | Friday | 18 Safar 1425 |
PML-N meets today to discuss Shahbaz's return
ISLAMABAD, April 8: An important meeting of the PML-N will be held here on Friday to finalize a plan for the return of party president Mian Shahbaz Sharif, sources told Dawn here on Thursday. The meeting has been convened by PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq after the Supreme Court in its short order on Wednesday allowed the PML-N leader to return to the country.
The court decision has been welcomed by the PML-N leaders who termed it a great victory. They were of the view that after this judgement the government would not be able to deport Mr Sharif upon his arrival in Pakistan. The sources said Friday's meeting was of great importance as its decisions would have an impact on the country's political scenario.
The sources said the meeting would be presided over by Raja Zafarul Haq and attended by PML-N leaders, including Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Tehmina Daultana, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ahsan Iqbal, Saranjam Khan, Sadia Abbasi and Siddiqul Farooque.
Talking to Dawn, PML-N information secretary Siddiqul Farooque said the meeting would review the current political situation in the country and finalize the plan for the safe return of Shahbaz Sharif. "The meeting would also discuss various proposals which would be submitted to the exiled leader to enable him to take a final decision about his return," Mr Farooque said.
In reply to a question, Mr Farooque said it would be difficult to give a specific date for the return of Mr Sharif at the moment. "However, his return is inevitable," he added.
The PML-N leader said the meeting would chalk out a strategy and determine a suitable time for Mr Sharif's return to Pakistan. When asked whether the party was waiting for the time when Gen Musharraf would shed his uniform before asking Mr Sharif to come back, he said: "This is not the question before us."
Mr Farooque said the return of Mr Sharif would definitely change the present political setup and those who betrayed the party at the time of crisis were perturbed over the court decision.
Earlier, at the ARD parliamentary party meeting held before the start of the National Assembly session on Thursday morning, members belonging to the PPP and the PML-N lauded the court decision.
A source told Dawn that it was proposed at the meeting that whenever Shahbaz Sharif came to Pakistan, he should be accorded a warm welcome from the ARD platform. Similarly, the source said, the PML-N members also expressed their readiness to welcome Benazir Bhutto on her arrival in the country. However, no formal decision was taken on the issue in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will leave for London on Saturday to hold a meeting with Shahbaz Sharif. Khwaja Asif who is in the US at present is also reaching London to attend the meeting.
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