LAHORE: A day after his return home from London, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his close aides on Sunday at his Raiwind residence to ‘take stock of the political and security situation in the country’.

Though no official statement was issued on matters discussed, sources in the ruling PML-N told Dawn that the huddle was meant to bring the premier up to speed after his long absence from the country for a heart surgery.

The sources said the premier had grown weaker but appeared defiant and determined to fight off his political enemies.

“Though he was consulted and his approval was sought on all important matters during his stay in London, first for surgery and later for recovery, he needed immediate update on all issues,” a source in the ruling party said.

The premier was first given briefing by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on economic issues, differences with the opposition on the Panama Papers leaks and nomination of the Election Commission’s new members.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar reportedly briefed the PM on security affairs, particularly operation Zarb-i-Azb and Karachi operation, and the citizenship verification drive launched through the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to detect aliens, especially Afghans living illegally in the country.

Differences with the opposition on Panama leaks, nomination of ECP members also discussed

Chaudhry Nisar and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also informed the prime minister about the election strategy the ruling PML-N had adopted for the Azad Kashmir polls and the steps being taken to counter the protest campaign the PTI and other opposition parties have threatened to launch after Eidul Fitr.

The sources said that PML-N elders discussed pros and cons of Nawaz Sharif’s plans of addressing at least one election rally in AJK to give a strong message to his political rivals that “Mian Sahib is back in the saddle”. The meeting decided to take more time for a final decision on the matter in view of the incident in AJK where PML-N and PPP workers had clashed with each other and the new wave of torture by Indian forces in held Kashmir.

On the occasion, the prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, threw a luncheon to celebrate her father’s successful heart surgery, of which the opposition had been making an issue.

Some rivals had been raising doubts about whether the heart surgery had been conducted or not and terming the timing of the operation a tactic to escape the pressure the opposition had mounted in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks.

There had been an outcry also on running of the country without the prime minister for 48 days and also using taxpayers’ money on a dedicated PIA flight that transported Mr Sharif and his camp office back from London.

Journey to progress

A handout issued by the Punjab government quoted Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as saying that the journey to progress and prosperity of the country and the nation would be completed successfully under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said that today’s Pakistan is far more prosperous, peaceful and economically strengthened as compared to 2013. He said that due to solid economic policies of Prime Minister Sharif, national economy had strengthened and foreign exchange reserves reached a record level in the history of the country.

The CM said that sincere efforts of the government were proving fruitful to steer the country out of problems.

He said that a lot of work had been done for overcoming the problem of energy shortage. He said that darkness would be removed and the country would have no power shortage in 2018. He said that thousands of megawatts of electricity would be generated through completion of energy projects and people would be rid of loadshedding.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2016