PML-N manifesto ‘barring’ Nawaz from heading party

• Kirmani says Nawaz to appear before court

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry on Monday said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will amend its manifesto to remove parts added by dictators.

Talking on a TV talk show, he said that the clause which bars a disqualified minister from heading the party was added in their party manifesto by General Pervez Musharraf when he was in power. The party manifesto is said to be the only hurdle in former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s way to head the party as the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017 passed on September 22 paves the way for him to do so.

When asked why members of the Pakistan People’s Party were absent from the National Assembly when the bill was being passed, party leader Sassi Palejo said the 37 votes would not have been possible had PPP not been active in the voting process. “It was us who had created the strength for these many numbers of votes.”

About Nawaz’s return to the country despite knowing he could evade punishment during his absence, Talal said that the former premier has returned to fulfil the promise he made to the people during his GT Road Rally. However, he added that they were not sure on who had created the confusion of Nawaz intending not to return to Pakistan.

“We have to date not been able to find out who leaks photos or matters pertaining to the Whatsapp call,” Talal said. Nawaz’s decision to return to Pakistan was not sudden as he had informed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi about it earlier on September 17. Even Federal Minister for Commerce Pervaiz Malik said on September 20 that Nawaz would return to the country to appear before the court.

Talking to media persons, Senator Dr Asif Kirmani said that Nawaz Sharif would appear before the Accountability Court on Tuesday (today) and hold a press conference as well. “We can only express regret for those who are talking negative things about Nawaz’s return to Pakistan,” he said.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was a non-serious man and there was no maturity in his politics. He went on to say that PML-N has always respected courts and it was, is and will remain united under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.

Nawaz’s political and legal consultation is underway and working committee and general council would decide on party president, he remarked. Nawaz had gone to London to visit her ailing wife and not for leisure, he added.