Hamza Shehbaz departs for London amid reported rifts within Sharif family

LAHORE: As the reports with regard to growing rifts within the Sharif family are in the media spotlight, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz – in the latest development – has departed for London ahead of NA-120 by-election due to personal engagements.

Before boarding his flight, he talked to election core-committee and said that he would monitor the by-election campaign for NA-120 from abroad on daily basis.

Dispelling rumours of rift within the Sharif family, Hamza said that Kulsoom Nawaz is like his mother and he would be campaigning for her in NA-120 by-poll while deeming it as his own.

On the occasion, he directed the ruling party workers to efficiently run the campaign and to leave no stone unturned for an important triumph in the constituency.

The PML-N leader is expected to visit his aunt Kulsoom Nawaz in London who has recently been diagnosed with throat cancer.

Following the disqualification of ex-PM Sharif, seat for National Assembly from NA-120 (Lahore constituency) fell vacant. The by-polls are to be held by next month in the NA-120 constituency.

Deposed PM Nawaz – who was also the ex-party supremo – has reportedly opposed granting authority to Hamza Shehbaz Sharif as in-charge for running a by-election campaign for his wife Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, sources said.

Lahore PML-N leader Pervaiz Malik had reportedly suggested Nawaz to let Hamza run the election campaign but his suggestion was declined by the former premier.

Informed sources further said following Nawaz Sharif’s ouster as Prime Minister, Hamza had said that he was a political worker and would continue his political activism. However, later he had expressed his dismay over being ignored and apprised his close confidantes that he would leave for abroad during the by-election campaign.

The by-election campaign is to be supervised by Pervaiz Malik and Maryam Nawaz, party sources said.

Later, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson clarified that Pervaiz Malik would lead the election campaign in NA-120 while denying earlier reports suggesting Hamza Shehbaz to lead the election campaign for Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

Meanwhile, party sources claimed that ousted PM’s daughter Maryam Nawaz will lead PML-N by-election campaign in the constituency in absence of her mother.