LAHORE -UNS: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the party’s president and Maryam Nawaz as vice president unopposed at a session of the party’s general council.
On the other hand, voters chose Ahsan Iqbal as the PML-N’s secretary general, Ishaq Dar as president overseas and international affairs and finance secretary, Attaullah Tarar as deputy secretary, and Marriyum Aurangzeb as secretary information.
PML-N Punjab’s president Rana Sanaullah, PML-N Sindh’s president Shah Muhammad Shah, PML-N KP’s president Amir Muqam, and PML-N AJK’s president Shah Ghulam Qadir also participated in the session. Sources said Shahiq Khaqan Abbasi could not participate due to his foreign tour.
Ms Aurangzeb tabled a resolution posing full confidence into PML-N surpemo Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, paying tribute to Shehbaz Sharif, and a tribute to Kashmir martyrs.
Nawaz to become PM for fourth time: Shehbaz Sharif
Addressing the session, Mr Shehbaz said the party leadership belonged to Mr Nawaz, adding that the PML-N supremo would become the PM for the fourth time. “The party kept delaying the session repeatedly so that I might transfer the responsibility to Mr Nawaz when he would return,” he added. The party called the session, he said, because the ECP had instructed so.
He went on to say that the country’s landscape would change if Mr Nawaz returned. “Mr Nawaz ensured provision of electricity and constructed motorways for country,” he added.
Heaping praise on Ms Nawaz, he said she was a brave lady, adding that she had been working hard.
Mr Shehbaz said the PML-N needed young leadership, adding that Mr Dar had been working day and night. “The government gave relief to common people in the budget,” he added. There was no space for anyone in the party, he said, who had been pulling Mr Dar’s legs.
The country would, he said, trek the path to progress soon.
The PM said the country had been developing swiftly during Mr Nawaz’s tenure, adding that the people should not be afraid. “Mr Nawaz formed a comprehensive policy on Kashmir,” he added.
On the occasion, Ms Nawaz said Mr Nawaz would return to Pakistan before elections, adding that elections were not far. “Mr Nawaz rules the hearts of every party worker,” she added.
She went on to say that PM Shehbaz also sought guidance from Mr Nawaz, adding that he never took any decision without Mr Nawaz’s consent. “Mr Shehbaz ran the country in trouble times,” she added.
“Nawaz Sharif is the name of modern Pakistan”, she said.
Ms Nawaz continued by saying Mr Nawaz put the country on a path to progress, adding that every development project carried Mr Nawaz’s name. “If we exclude Mr Nawaz’s nine years in government, we’ll be faced with ruins only,” she added.
No one who developed the country, she said, could harm it, adding that Mr Nawaz never instructed his party workers to burn the country. “Her father never sought any outsider’s help after he was dethroned,” she added. Mr Nawaz always preferred, she said, country to vested interests.
She said no one had monopoly over the PML-N, adding that workers were respected the most in the party. “It is the duty of every worker to strengthen the party,” she added. Those who performed well, she said, must be awarded portfolios.
She congratulated all the office-bearers on getting “elected” and hailed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar saying, “Mr Dar run the country in difficult times”.
