Nawaz to guide PML-N

Published August 5, 2002

ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: Shahbaz Sharif, talking to the party leaders on Sunday here by telephone, has expressed his determination to work under the guidance of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif together with the workers of the PML-N for the safeguard and glory of Pakistan.

Shahbaz, the newly-elected party chief, told PML-N Coordinator Ahsan Iqbal and Secretary Information Siddiqul Farooq that the presidentship of the party was the custody of Nawaz Sharif, and he would continue to take guidance from him in running the party affairs and would hand this office back as soon as things turn conducive.

Referring to the reports of Captain Safdar along with his spouse Maryam Nawaz’s arrival in London from Jeddah en-route Pakistan, the sources said they were not political leaders but members of the family who could go anywhere and return home at their will.

So far as any plan of their accompanying Shahbaz Sharif to Pakistan was concerned, the sources said it was “premature” to comment on.

However, Shahbaz Sharif during his conversation assured the leaders that the “nation should be ready for good news in the near future”.

The party sources said the replacement of Nawaz Sharif was merely a formality to fulfil the requirement of the Political Parties Act 2002 which the party was doing as a protest.

Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooq said the party had decided not to leave election arena for the rivals, and thus it took steps to fit for the registration and taking party symbol.