LAHORE: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will continue serving as the acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) until May 28, when the party is scheduled to elect its new president. This decision was confirmed by the party’s Lahore President, Saif Ul Malook Khokhar, following the central working committee meeting today.
Shehbaz’s continuation in the role follows his recent resignation as party president, citing the “unjust” disqualification of party leader Nawaz Sharif from the prime minister’s office and the party presidency. He emphasized the need for Nawaz to reclaim his rightful position as PML-N president.
The party’s general council meeting, originally planned for May 11, has been rescheduled for May 28, coinciding with “Youm-e-Takbeer,” where Nawaz is expected to reassume the presidency of PML-N. Moreover, Rana Sanaullah has been appointed as the chief election commissioner for the party’s presidential election.
Senior leader Saad Rafique, speaking to journalists after the party’s meeting, acknowledged Shehbaz’s resignation with regret. Regarding the possibility of being elected as PML-N’s secretary-general in place of Ahsan Iqbal, Rafique stated he was unaware if his name had been considered for the position.
Nawaz resigned as the country’s prime minister in 2017 following his lifetime disqualification from holding public office by the Supreme Court for failing to declare a receivable salary.
In February 2018, the apex court also disqualified him as the president of PML-N, stating that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 cannot lead a political party. However, Nawaz returned to Pakistan from London last October after four years of self-imposed exile.
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