Nawaz Sharif ready to face challenges on return: PML-N

LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced on Saturday that party supremo Nawaz Sharif is prepared to confront “all kinds of circumstances” upon his return from London on October 21, following extensive deliberations with the party’s second-tier leadership in separate meetings.

According to Dawn.com, this declaration came a day after senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar stated that they would no longer pursue accountability for those responsible for Nawaz Sharif’s removal from power.

Both PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz reiterated this “new narrative” during separate meetings held in Lahore.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that upon Nawaz Sharif’s return, the party’s top priorities would be the revival of the economy, national reconciliation, and the elimination of terrorism. Both Shehbaz and Maryam Nawaz made it clear that they would tolerate no excuses for any failure in these endeavors.

As per the media reports, the meeting attended by Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Pervaiz Rashid, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Malik Ahmad Khan, Bilal Yasin, and Saad Rafique discussed the party’s ‘new narrative’—focused on rescuing the country from crises rather than seeking revenge.

In another meeting, Maryam Nawaz instructed the party’s divisional presidents and secretary generals to achieve a “certain target” in terms of mobilising people for Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21.

Read More: “Nawaz Sharif can rebuild Pakistan or take personal vendetta”

Party insiders noted a sense of confidence among party leaders following the shift in the elder Sharif’s narrative, expressing optimism about his smooth return and potential legal relief ahead of his scheduled arrival.

Nawaz Sharif had been serving a seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case before securing bail on medical grounds and traveling to London for treatment. There are expectations that he may apply for protective bail in the high court shortly before returning to Pakistan.

The PML-N had recently unveiled its new narrative, with a focus on the economy rather than settling old scores. Former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking outside Stanhope House, conveyed Nawaz Sharif’s intent to prioritise the nation’s progress and prosperity over seeking revenge.

When asked about the possibility of accountability for figures like Gen. Bajwa and Gen. Faiz, Dar indicated that Nawaz Sharif would not repeat previous statements and would instead concentrate on steering the country towards development.

In response to Dar’s remarks, a party insider cautioned against disregarding the delicate balance required in political matters, emphasising the importance of maintaining a pragmatic approach and avoiding any actions that could displease the establishment.

The PML-N leader also highlighted the party’s need to avoid antagonising the establishment, given the party’s reduced popularity over the past 16 months. He underscored the importance of carefully considering the consequences of political decisions and not causing undue strain on the party.