Nawaz Sharif chairs meeting of PML-N leaders at Raiwind

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif presided over a consultative meeting of PML-N leaders at his Raiwind palace on Tuesday, ARY News reported.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, provincial Law minister Rana Sanaullah and Hamza Shahbaz MNA were present during the meeting, sources said.

The meeting discussed various issues ranging from party’s future strategy to the by-election in NA-120 in Lahore.

Talking to media after the meeting, the National Assembly speaker said Nawaz Sharif used the historic Grand Trunk (GT) Road for his homecoming rally on the insistence of his friends and workers.

He said that what was destined had happened already, now they have to move forward.

Earlier, a constitutional petition seeking to restrain Nawaz Sharif from presiding over the meetings of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) was filed in the Lahore High Court.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) Ishtiaq Ansari petitioned the high court, submitting that the Supreme Court through a judgment dated July 28 disqualified Nawaz Sharif from holding the office of prime minister for concealing his undrawn salary from a UAE-based company.

A political leader disqualified by a court could not chair party meetings, nor could he participate in meetings, the petitioner argued, adding that nevertheless Sharif was chairing the meeting of PML-N in violation of the election laws.

He pleaded with the court to restrain Sharif from chairing or partaking in PML-N party meetings.

On Aug 08, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a notice to ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)to appoint a new party leader.

According to ECP’s notice that cites Political Parties Order 2002, “a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in a political party.” Article 15 of the PML-N’s own party constitution stipulates that if the seat of party president is vacant, it is to be filled within one week’s time, it added.

The PML-N has been asked to effect new change and inform the election regulation body.