Nawaz meets Nisar, PM Abbasi, discusses future line of action

ISLAMABAD: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday held meetings with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and other senior leaders of his party at the Punjab House in the federal capital to evolve the future course of action in wake of the corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Sources said that Law Minister Zahid Hamid, senators Pervaiz Rashid and Asif Kirmani and the prime minister’s aviation adviser Mehtab Khan Abbasi were in a meeting with Nawaz when Chaudhry Nisar reached the premises.

“Nisar first enquired after the health of Nawaz’s wife, Kulsoom, who is undergoing treatment for lymphoma in London. Later, a one-on-one meeting began between the two,” the sources said, adding that Nisar reposed his full confidence in Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, but expressed his grievances as well.

After meeting Nisar, Nawaz held a meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi.

The two discussed matters related to the party and the political situation of the country, the sources said, adding that Abbasi also discussed development projects with the former premier.

Nawaz returned to the country early on Monday after spending over three weeks in London.

He is set to appear before an accountability court on Tuesday which is hearing three corruption cases against him and his family.

Last week, Chaudhry Nisar had criticised fellow party leaders, including Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, over their statements following a series of scathing criticism by international and regional powers on Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists.

The ministers acknowledged the existence of banned outfits in the country and said that the country needs to set its own house in order.

Nisar, in response, had advised the prime minister and ministers to “fix the matters of the house” but avoid making the country a laughing stock before the world.

He had also lashed out at the government over its failure to condemn a US drone strike in Kurram Agency this month. Earlier, Nisar made public his disagreement over the heightened role of Maryam Nawaz in the party affairs.

Nisar Ali Khan had said that he cannot accept Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as his leader; instead, he only considers her as his friend’s daughter.