Shehbaz Sharif shows grace, PML-N to sit on Opp benches

• Nawaz Sharif claims election ‘stolen’ for Imran Khan

• MMA calls for re-election, summons APC, PPP to announce strategy on 27th

LAHORE: The second largest party in the polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday decided not to call out the election results, and rather sit on the opposition benches, while other parties, including the PPP and MMA, have summoned meetings to decide their future course of election after the PTI managed to secure a majority of national and provincial seats in the polls.

The decision was made in the PML-N Executive Committee meeting which was chaired by the party president, Shehbaz Sharif.

Shehbaz Sharif said they would play the role of a strong opposition and would write congratulation letters to the winners and encouragement letters to the losers, adding that they would raise a strong voice against the poll rigging.

He said that they would also provide available evidences of the rigging to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

‘ELECTION STOLEN’:

Earlier, PML-N supremo and convicted ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif had alleged that general elections 2018 had been “stolen” to pave the way for the victory of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

“Despite worst performance by the PTI chief in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his victory was engineered,” he said.

Reacting to the initial results of elections at Adiala Jail, where he is imprisoned in a corruption case, Nawaz Sharif said that he still stands by the slogan ‘respect the vote’, adding that “we want to empower masses”.

“This is a result of ‘stolen’ election”, he added.

The PML-N supremo further expressed surprise over PML-N losing from NA-57 and NA-108.

PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi lost to PTI’s Sadaqat Ali Abbasi from Muree’s NA-57, while in another major upset, PML-N’s Abid Sher Ali lost to PTI’s Farrukh Habib from NA-108.

Nawaz Sharif further said that future course of action will be formulated by the party.

It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold a party meeting later in the day.

During the course of the corruption trial against Nawaz Sharif, he had time and again accused “aliens”– euphemism for country’s military–of meddling in politics, claiming that establishment is forcing his party leaders to change loyalties.

Following Nawaz’s, Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had also said that angels will play an important role during the polls, which he believes will throw a hung parliament, thereby paving the way for a government of national consensus.

MMA CALLS FOR RE-ELECTION:

Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (Fazl) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman denounced the election results and called for re-election. Further, MMA chief announced to call an All Parties Conference (APC) and host parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Surzameen Party (PSP).

PPP TO ANNOUNCE STRATEGY ON JULY 27:

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that party leadership would decide about the future plan related to the elections’ results on July 27, adding that the plans to keep him out of the parliament have failed.