RAWALPINDI: Former information minister and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Pervez Rashid on Friday said that party leadership would consider supporting Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Aitzaz Ahsan for president if he apologises to Nawaz Sharif.
Rashid said PML-N may support Ahsan “if he visits Adiala jail and apologises to Nawaz Sharif for his remarks”.
Rashid made the comments while speaking to media outside Adiala Jail where he and other party leaders had arrived to meet the former premier although he did not clarify which comments by Ahsan he was referring to.
Pervez added that the PML-N is in touch with other political parties and wishes to field a joint candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
The alliance of opposition parties suffered a blow after PPP unilaterally announced to field Aitzaz Ahsan for the presidential elections. The PML-N denied it would support Ahsan, citing lack of consultation over the nomination as the reason. Furthermore, PPP’s failure to vote for PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for the post of prime minister has also damaged relations between the two parties.
Aitzaz Ahsan had previously made inappropriate comments about Nawaz Sharif’s and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz’s illness.
While the PML-N has not announced a candidate for the presidential elections, meetings with opposition parties are scheduled after Eidul Azha to reach a consensus on the candidate.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Dr Arif Alvi as its candidate for the post.