Consensus on nomination of Shahbaz Sharif as next PM, says Khawaja Saad

KARACHI: As an informal meeting of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) with ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in chair today deliberated the party’s post Supreme Court verdict strategy and nomination of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as new prime minister and an interim prime minister, former minister for Pakistan Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said there was consensus on electing Shahbaz to the coveted post.

In a tweet, Khawaja said, “Shahbaz’s performance as Punjab chief minister has remained exemplary. He has also served as the president of the PML-N. There is consensus on his nomination for the premiership within the party.”

بطور وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب شہبازشریف کی کارکردگی بےمثال ہے. وہ مسلم لیگ ن کےصدر بھی رہ چکےہیں. پارٹی میں وزارت عظمیٰ کےلئےانکےنام پر اتفاق رائے ہے

— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) July 29, 2017

In another tweet, Khawaja resolved, “InshAllah, we will bring a good man.”

انشاء اللہ اچھا آدمی ہی لائیں گے. 🙂 https://t.co/uhmdoBd5xE

— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) July 29, 2017

PML-N’s parliamentary party will meet today at 4:00pm to finalize the nomination of a party leader who will lead the government in the interim period. Since Sharif has also been disqualified as president of the party, the leader of the house in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, in his capacity as chairman of the PML-N, has convened the meeting.

The  meeting will formally approve the nomination of Shahbaz Sharif today. He would have to relinquish the office of Punjab chief minister and be elected to the National Assembly to become eligible for holding prime minister’s office.