LAHORE: A meeting between PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been deferred to Oct 18 (Friday) because of the latter’s engagements with regard to the ‘Azadi March’ preparation.

“The duo’s meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday (today) has been put off till Friday to discuss a strategy on the march. Both will hold a press conference after the meeting to inform the public about important decisions regarding the protest,” PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said here on Tuesday.

The PML-N on Monday cleared the air of uncertainty about its participation in the JUI-F protest, deciding that the opposition party will join the march whether it remains a rally or turns into a sit-in against the government.

Shahbaz Sharif had asked the party leaders at the meeting to mobilise workers in the light of party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s instructions to fully participate in the march of the Maulana on Oct 31.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz notified leaders against the vacant party posts as part of the PML-N preparations for the march.

Sheikh Aftab has been made senior vice president Punjab. Saira Tarar, Saud Majeed, Manshaullah Butt, Zakiya Shahnawaz and Amanullah Shadikhel have been made vice presidents in Punjab. Zeeshan Rafique has been made additional general secretary and Rana Arshad and Khwaja Waseem have been notified as joint secretaries.

Sheikh Waseem Akhtar and Malik Abrar have been made divisional presidents of Lahore and Rawalpindi, respectively. Chaudhry Abid Raza, Shahnawaz Ranjah, Akram Ansari, Abdul Rahman Kanju, Mian Yawar Zaman and Mehr Ijaz Ahmed have been made presidents of Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal and D.G Khan, respectively.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2019