Hashmi not aware of Shahbaz’s plan

Published January 30, 2003

LAHORE, Jan 29: PML-N acting president Javed Hashmi said on Wednesday that he was not aware of the purpose of Mian Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to the United States, but it would be important politically.

Talking to reporters at the residence of Begum Tehmina Daultana, she said there was no written agreement between the Sharifs and the government that the exiled family could not come back during the period.

There was no bar on the Sharifs taking part in Pakistan’s politics, Mr Hashmi said.

It may be pointed out that members of Abbas Sharif family who had come to Pakistan to participate in some marriage ceremonies are still in the city, although the interior minister had said they would stay only for a week.

When it was pointed out that Information Minister Sheikh Rashid had said recently that he himself had seen the written agreement, Mr Hashmi said then he should also show it to the nation.

The PML-N leader said he was running the party in the light of instructions given by the Sharifs.

He told a questioner that his party had a clear point of view on the nuclear programme. It was for this reason that Mian Nawaz Sharif as prime minister had refused to give in to the US pressure.

Hamza: On a day when his father Shahbaz Sharif flew from Saudi Arabia to the United States, Hamza Shahbaz hosted a dinner for the PML-N legislators at his Raiwind Road residence.

MNAs and MPAs present on the occasion exchanged views on the situation in the country.

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