–PM will not use powers to remove top officials in case decision goes against him
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to accept the decision of the Supreme Court in Panama case verdict even if it comes against him. He has decided to do so to uphold the rule of law.
Sources close to the prime minister informed Pakistan Today that the PM will accept the decision of the apex court. There will be no confrontation as the legal and constitutional path will be adopted for the dispensation of justice, sources said.
They further said contrary to its past the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will not create a hue and cry to avoid confrontation, and there will be no suspension or removal of top officials by the PM.
Following the repeated assertion of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar, and some politicians, the PM has taken the decision and powerful circles have been informed in this very regard, sources added.
Moreover, the PML-N government will complete its tenure, they added. It was also decided that a party leader will be nominated for the top slot in case of PM’s disqualification.
Sources, however, disclosed a list of shortlisted candidates for the slot of PM that includes the names of National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal in the case of PM Sharif’s disqualification.
Though the revelations coupled with evidence and documentary proves of corruption have put the Sharif family in hot waters; however, the new decision of PM Sharif to adopt legal and constitutional path instead of confrontation will help lessen the blow. This decision will also be a face-saving for PM to contest future polls. This decision will help curb the chaos which had been prevalent since the PM’s last statement—to fight till last breath.
According to the sources, a strategy was earlier devised after consultation with senior party leaders under which it was decided that the PM would not quit the office and will strive hard till last breath to secure his portfolio. If PM and his team fail to change the conditions then the premier will remove top official under his executive powers.
PM got annoyed with Ch Nisar Ali Khan when he advised him against the confrontational strategy; but some powerful, important but not political personalities have played their role to convince the PM to change his decision.
was also learnt that PM has given certain conditions to the powerful circles who are trying to ease the political environment of the country to be fulfilled in case of PM Sharif’s disqualification.
According to these conditions, PM will accept the SC decision of disqualification in case he is allowed to speak to rallies at G.T. Road on his return to Lahore and other parts of the country to control the political damage and to regain the public sympathies before the general elections.
PM Nawaz is also ready to face trial in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) if SC decides to hand over the matter to NAB or ECP for further probe. Similarly, the PML-N will accept disqualification if its government is allowed to complete its constitutional tenure and nominate the next PM from the party.
