Putting an end to confusion surrounding the future
leadership of the embattled PML-N, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif
told party aides on Wednesday that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif
would be the party's candidate for premiership in the upcoming General
Election.
Expressing confidence in his younger brother,
Nawaz said that Shahbaz had never disappointed him or the party, and had
risen to prominence because of his hard work and performance.
The former prime minister made the remarks during a meeting at his Jati Umra residence yesterday.
He
said that although Shahbaz may have had a difference in opinion over
certain matters, he never violated party discipline and never refused to
accept what Nawaz told him.
Nawaz added that at times he
accepted Shahbaz's suggestions as well. "I had to take Pervez
Musharraf's call condoling our father's death upon Shahbaz's
insistence," he said.
Sources
claimed that Nawaz also said that when favouritism affects the
parameters of justice, society loses its stability. "Despite there being
so much [in the case] against Imran Khan, he was left scot-free while I
was sent home on just an Iqama," he was reported as saying.
"We will not stay quiet. I will inform the nation of the inconsistencies between the two decisions," he said, referring to Supreme Court's decision disqualifying him and the one in the Imran Khan disqualification case.
Shedding
light on his planned movement for justice, he said that the party's
campaign for the 2018 General Election and the movement would go hand in
hand.
"Someone will have to stand up to correct the ills of 70 years," he said, adding that he was standing upright in the battle.
PML-N members appreciated the decision taken by the party chief on Thursday.
"It
would be wrong to say that a single vote in the party is against
Shahbaz Sharif," MNA Rana Afzal said regarding the development.
Minister
of State for Power Abid Sher Ali said that the party would accept the
decision taken by Nawaz, adding that Shahbaz is a very capable
individual that the country needs right now.
Although MNA
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh praised the decision, he added that the process of
consultation within the party needs to be broadened.
Shahbaz had earlier been tipped to replace Nawaz as the prime minister
after his disqualification at the hands of Supreme Court late July.
However, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was later made the prime minister as
Shahbaz claimed he wanted to focus on completion of various projects in
Punjab.
Last month, a party meeting in London also decided to put Shahbaz forward as a prime ministerial candidate after the 2018 election if party president Nawaz Sharif remained ineligible to run for office.
Only people have the right to choose the next prime minister
"Only the 200 million people of Pakistan have the right to
choose who their next prime minister will be," Leader of the Opposition
Khursheed Shah said while commenting on the development.
"Neither Nawaz Sharif nor anybody else has the right to choose the next prime minister."
Shah
added that when people ask him why the parliament is always empty, he
tells them that it remains empty because Nawaz never gave it due
importance. "This why he has to keep asking mujhay kyun nikala (why was I removed?)."