Nawaz reaches London for high-level PML-N huddle

• PM Abbasi, CM Sharif, FM Kh Asif to participate in meeting

ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif touched down in London on Sunday to chair a high-level meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in which important decisions are likely to be made.

Talking to media at Heathrow airport, the PML-N president said that his government had not only ended power load shedding but also purged the country of terrorism.

Nawaz, to a question, said that the allegations levelled against him were all “baseless”.

Referring to reports of a split within the party ranks, the former PM said that these were just rumours and one should not believe in rumour-mongering.

Nawaz who was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah was expected to return to Pakistan, but he left for London for a high-level party meeting which is likely to be attended by senior party leadership, among them Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also reached London Sunday evening. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif reached Jeddah Sunday evening, wherefrom he would leave for London.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had left for London from Lahore on Sunday morning. According to a handout issued by the Punjab government, Shehbaz would visit his ailing sister-in-law Begum Kalsoom Nawaz to inquire about her health. He will also meet former prime minister Nawaz Sharif there.

The chief minister will first hold some important meetings in Qatar, wherefrom he would reach London to join the rest of the party leaders. Moreover, some members of the federal cabinet will also be a part of the PML-N entourage gathering in London.

Sources said that Shehbaz can stay in London for three to four days. The party gathering is likely to discuss current political scenario of the country. According to sources, the former premier will arrive in Pakistan in the beginning of November.

According to Nawaz’s son Hassan, the former prime minister was to return to Pakistan on Wednesday (Oct 25) after a brief stay in Saudi Arabia. Nawaz had been in London to spend time with his wife since October 5 until October 23, when he left for Jeddah.

On Oct 26, the accountability court hearing corruption references against the Sharif family issued bailable warrants for former premier Sharif in two references. The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.

The hearing was then adjourned until November 3, with the last chance for the former premier to ensure his presence in court.