Nawaz alleges betrayal, says Imran stabbed him in the back

LAHORE: Former prime minister and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif has said that the PTI founder had stabbed him in the back by reneging on assurances of cooperation with his government.

He mentioned that the PTI leader had held meetings with Zaheerul Islam and Tahirul Qadri in London and initiated sit-ins, remarking, “I don’t know who signaled him to do so.”

Nawaz Sharif made these remarks while addressing the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday. He expressed his ongoing confusion about the reasons behind the overthrow of his government.

Additionally, he referenced an audio recording, in his possession, in which former chief justice Saqib Nisar had allegedly said that the PTI founder must be brought to power by removing Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif questioned why Saqib Nisar has not been held accountable following the leak of the audio.

Furthermore, he asserted that Mazahar Ali Naqvi should face the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for his actions.

Nawaz Sharif said all such actions should be stopped. He said that during the PMLN era, the prices of essential goods were at reasonable levels. He criticised the judiciary for decisions that he claimed brought chaos to the country, suggesting that the judges responsible should be held accountable. He emphasized that if the PMLN government had continued, Pakistan would have become a global power by now. He pointed out that many who suffered false cases are still in jail, some are under detention and some are outside the country. He noted that those who faced hardships are now once again holding positions of power.

Nawaz Sharif highlighted that during his tenure, people’s investments in motorways were questioned, but today everyone acknowledges their contribution to Pakistan’s economy. Reflecting on the political unrest, he said, “I don’t understand why they started sit-ins. I don’t understand where they got the signal to start sit-ins at D-Chowk.”

Party sources said Nawaz Sharif mentioned that the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan was repeatedly cancelled due to the sit-ins, but eventually, the president came, and the CPEC agreement was signed. The Chinese president himself described CPEC as a gift from China to Pakistan, Nawaz claimed.

Nawaz Sharif noted that he and Maryam Nawaz faced 150 court appearances. “Judges cannot remove the president and prime minister in any country,” he claimed, adding that he was disqualified for life for not taking a salary from his son. “Is it possible?” he asked. He also criticised the expedited handling of his case by the NAB, mentioning Justice Ejazul Hassan as the monitoring judge.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif expressed his pleasure at seeing the leadership of the entire country. He conveyed a heartfelt message to all attendees, saying that in every face there was a pillar of the PMLN. Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the gathering, saying that he was returning the “Amanat” to Nawaz Sharif. He thanked the PMLN leader and others, explaining that the party presidency was entrusted to him due to the injustice done to Nawaz Sharif. He asserted that the PMLN had suffered from the removal of Nawaz Sharif from the party command.

Shehbaz highlighted Nawaz Sharif’s achievements, such as making Pakistan a nuclear power, ending terrorism with the cooperation of Pakistan’s forces and restoring peace to Karachi. He also recalled that upon assuming power in 2013, Nawaz had ended loadshedding, bringing the nation out of darkness. He asserted that only Nawaz Sharif can solve the country’s problems and unite the nation once again.

Meanwhile, the PMLN Central Working Committee has accepted the resignation of party president Shehbaz Sharif and nominated him as acting party president until May 28, 2024. A PMLN Central Working Committee meeting was held on Saturday at the Model Town party office, with participants including Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, and other senior party members.

Over 109 members of the Central Working Committee attended the meeting, which was chaired by the Central General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal. The meeting accepted Shehbaz Sharif’s resignation, which he submitted to the party’s secretary general on May 11, 2024, and nominated him as acting party president. Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan was appointed chief election commissioner of the party.

The meeting also praised Shehbaz Sharif’s services as party president for seven years in glowing terms. Subsequently, Shehbaz Sharif’s name was proposed as the party president by party leaders and supported by other members, including Nawaz Sharif.

PMLN Lahore President Saiful Mulok Khokhar confirmed that Shehbaz Sharif would remain acting president of the PMLN until May 28, while Nawaz Sharif would be elected party president in the general council meeting scheduled for May 28, 2024.

Party sources said the meeting’s decisions would be ratified by the CEC, with final approval given in the General Council meeting.

Senior PMLN leader Rana Tanveer, while speaking to the media, praised Shehbaz Sharif’s decisions as party president. He also commended the 16-month PDM government headed by Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister. He noted that the present cabinet was making decisions with full unity and consensus, and the positive results were becoming evident.

Rana Tanveer commented on Ali Amin Gandapur, saying that even before becoming the chief minister, Gandapur made no sense. He recounted an incident where Gandapur had threatened him but later avoided him. “When the PTI people talk nonsense, they will answer for what they said,” Rana Tanveer concluded.

PMLN leader Mussadik Malik remarked that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not taking a salary from his son. He emphasised Nawaz Sharif would once again head the party as its president.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that Shehbaz Sharif’s resignation as party president was accepted with a heavy heart, and his services were greatly appreciated.

When asked, Saad Rafiq said he was unaware that his name was suggested for the general secretary position of the party. He also spoke of the natural bond of love and affection with Maulana Fazlur Rahman and criticised the KP chief minister’s verbal attacks on the federal government, urging an end to such chaos. Rana Sanaullah Khan, speaking to the media, criticised the KP chief minister, mocking him as “Tees Mar Khan.” He dismissed Ali Amin Gandapur’s actions as mere posturing and emphasized that the KP government would follow the Federation’s directives.

He said the establishment could talk to the PTI if it wished, but PTI had come into conflict with the establishment since the beginning. The election of the central president of PMLN was later discussed in the party’s election commission meeting, headed by Rana Sanaullah Khan.

Other members of the PMLN Election Commission, including Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Ishrat Ashraf, Jamal Shah Kaktor and Khel Das Kohistani, also participated.

The election schedule for the presidential election has been released by the election commission. Nomination papers will be available from the party secretariat in Model Town on May 27, 2024. Nomination papers can be submitted on May 28 between 10am and 12pm, scrutiny of the papers will take place between 1pm and 2pm, and the general council meeting to elect the central president of the party will be held on May 28 at 4 pm.