Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif is likely to take oath as prime minister of the country for a third term on June 5, as the president has decided to summon National Assembly’s session on May 28, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A source said the decision was taken during a one-on-one meeting between Nawaz and Zardari on Wednesday at the Presidency after the luncheon banquet hosted for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
During the meeting, the president apprised Nawaz about the oath-taking ceremony for the new PM.
Both leaders discussed the overall situation in the country and issues relating to the run-up to transition.
Sources told Pakistan Today that it was a desire of Nawaz to see the oath-taking of newly elected members of the National Assembly on May 28, as this date was memorable for him, as Pakistan had went atomic when then PML-N government conducted five nuclear tests on May 28, 1998.
The sources said that during the meeting, President Zardari told Nawaz that to honour his desire, the median session of the National Assembly had been summoned on May 28.
The president also apprised Nawaz that his oath-taking ceremony would be held on June 5. The sources said the president was of the view that by that time (June 5), elections of speakers and deputy speakers of National Assembly would be completed.
After the meeting, Zardari told reporters that the Presidency would cooperate fully with Nawaz-led government to pull the country out of existing problems.
The president said he already considered the PML-N chief as the prime minister.
To a query on his party voting for Nawaz in prime minister’s elections, the president said that he had no role to play in party affairs and decision in this regard would be made by party leader Amin Faheem.
Nawaz said everyone would have to work together to resolves problems being confronted by the country. The PML-N chief said the Charter of Democracy would be abided by and fully implemented. He said that he had no grudge against President Zardari.
To a query, he said he had made no demand for the resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari, as he was elected democratically. The would-be prime minister further said, “We have the country’s interest in the mind not our own.”
President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the meeting took place after the luncheon banquet hosted for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
The President congratulated Nawaz for securing a heavy mandate in the general elections and gave his best wishes to the new government.
He said the president thanked Nawaz for accepting the luncheon invitation hosted in honour of the Chinese PM and expressed confidence that after political transition, the new government would successfully address the problems and issues facing the country.