- Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman is likely to replace Shehbaz as Punjab CM
An informal meeting, headed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, on Saturday deliberated the PML-N’s political strategy after Sharif’s disqualification and decided to rally behind Nawaz’s younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, after discussions that stretched over four hours.
The meeting came ahead of the PML-N’s parliamentary party meeting, to be convened at Punjab House, Islamabad on Saturday.
Sources claim that PML-N leaders and former federal ministers Rana Tanveer, Khurram Dastgir, Sheikh Aftab and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were front-runners for the post of interim prime minister until Shehbaz takes office. Ultimately, Khaqan Abbasi was tapped to take over as interim prime minister.
Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman is likely to replace Shehbaz as the chief minister of Punjab.
The meeting, expected to be the last under Nawaz in the PM House, was attended by close aides of the outgoing prime minister, including Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq, Saad Rafique, Rana Tanveer, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Shehbaz Sharif and Saifur Rehman.
It is crucial to mention here that a formal announcement has yet to be made.