Nisar and Shehbaz meet COAS as PM braces for surgery

• Interior minister and Punjab CM have two-hour-long meeting with General Raheel Sharif, apprise him of PM’s health condition
• PM House spokesperson says Nawaz will continue to oversee affairs of the state from London with help of senior aides
• Says Rules of the Business authorise PM to nominate a cabinet member to preside over cabinet meetings as well as of the National Economic Council and others

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Saturday, as a spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s House announced later in the evening that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will continue to oversee affairs of the state from London, where he is scheduled to undergo a heart surgery on Tuesday.

Informed sources said that the two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders called on the army chief and exchanged views on the country’s security situation, US drone attack in Balochistan and success of Zarb-e-Azb against terrorism.

“The army chief enquired about the health of Prime Minister Nawaz and also prayed for his early recovery from the surgery,” the sources added.

Sources said that Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the younger brother of the prime minister, reached the Islamabad airport from Lahore while Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was already there to receive him. Both the leaders boarded a helicopter and went to the GHQ in Rawalpindi, they added.

According to the sources, the meeting at the GHQ lasted for more than two hours.

The army chief also expressed concern over the recent US drone attack in Balochistan and termed it a violation of the country’s solidarity and autonomy, said the sources, adding that Gen Raheel also took both the leaders into confidence regarding his recent meeting with US Ambassador to Pakistan, David Hale.

Chaudhry Nisar told the army chief that the meeting of Cabinet Defence Committee would be held after the prime minister’s return to Pakistan, adding that the drone attack would be on top of the meeting’s agenda.

In a twitter statement later in the night, Shehbaz Sharif said that he was leaving for Britian on Sunday “where my elder brother & nation’s beloved leader Mian Nawaz Sharif will be undergoing an open heart surgery.”

Sources said that the PML-N top leadership has been summoned for a meeting in Lahore on Sunday following which Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz and prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz will depart for London.

PM TO OVERSEE STATE AFFAIRS:

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the PM House said that Nawaz Sharif will continue to oversee affairs of the government from London with everyone from the principal secretary, military secretary and other crucial staff at his beck and call throughout the visit.

“The prime minister is kept abreast on routine matters of the country and his directions are accordingly conveyed to the concerned quarters,” the PM House statement read.

The premier’s spokesperson said that PM Nawaz will be travelling back to Pakistan “on the advice of his doctors after the surgery”.

PM Nawaz will undergo an open heart surgery in London on Tuesday and is likely to remain hospitalised for a whole week after the procedure, his family said on Friday.

“PM Nawaz Sharif [is] undergoing an open heart surgery on Tuesday,” tweeted Maryam Nawaz. Her father travelled to the British capital on May 22 for a medical checkup.

According to the spokesperson, PM Nawaz is in constant contact with federal ministers and cabinet members, among other concerned authorities. “It is important to note that there are no postponements or delays in the matters pertaining to the routine functioning of the state.”

After the prime minister undergoes surgery in the coming days, he would be instantly discharging responsibilities as the Chief Executive of the country, the statement added.

The PM’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif tweeted that the Sharif family would be bearing the expenses of the heart surgery.

PM MAY ACT THROUGH MINISTERS:

The prime minister’s spokesperson also clarified that in the performance of his functions under the constitution, the premier may act either directly or through the federal ministers.

He said Rules of the Business authorize the prime minister to nominate a cabinet member to preside over cabinet meetings as well as of the National Economic Council and others.

The statement comes hours after former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry called for electing new prime minister as the incumbent premier would undergo an open heart surgery in London.

The spokesman quoted the Article 48 of the Constitution saying that the president acts on advice of the prime minister or Cabinet as the case be.

He said that the prime minister may even assign divisions to a minister.

The spokesperson said according to the Section 12(1) of the Prime Minister’s Salary, Allowances and Privileges Act, 1975: “The Prime Minister may avail himself of leave of absence during his term of office, at any one time or from time to time, for urgent reasons of health or private affairs, for a period not exceeding three months in the aggregate.”

Article 90 of the constitution “The Federal Government: (1) Subject to the Constitution, the executive authority of the Federation shall be exercised in the name of the President by the Federal Government, consisting of the Prime Minister and the Federal Ministers, which shall act through the Prime Minister, who shall be the chief executive of the Federation.”