- Ch Nisar says there was no need of consultative meeting
The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday endorsed Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar as the party’s interim president.
Party Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq proposed the name of Nasar and the majority members of the CWC endorsed.
Nawaz Sharif was also appointed as party’s quaid (leader) through a resolution passed by the meeting. The PML-N General Council meeting is likely to be summoned on September 7 to endorse the party president.
The meeting, which was held at Punjab House, was also attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi among others.
But Nasar’s elevation did not go without a scratch as party’s senior leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan objected the process of decision-making in the party.
A ruling party leader told Pakistan Today that once Raja Zafarul Haq informed the meeting that Nasar’s name had been finalised by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the meeting was convened to consult the party leadership.
The source said that Chaudhry Nisar argued that there was no use of consultation as the proposed nominee had already been leaked to the media days ahead of the party’s meeting. The source said why was the consultative meeting was convened if the decision was already finalised in Lahore.
Nisar asserted there was no use of the consultation now and it would be better to endorse the nomination of Nasar. Some voices supported the views expressed by Nisar but soon the majority silenced the dissenting voices, the source added.
Asked whether Shehbaz Sharif is likely to be appointed new party chief, the source said that Shehbaz would not be elevated to the top slot and Yaqoob Khan Nasar is most likely to continue as the party chief till the return of Nawaz Sharif as party president after winning the case from the apex court.
Another party leader said that the party’s CWC also unanimously passed a resolution to elect Nawaz Sharif as party’s quaid.
Raja Zafarul Haq said that the CWC normally needs attendance of 15 to 45 members. He said that new president had filled the technical gap developed after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.
On August 8, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a notice to the PML-N for the appointment of a new party leader citing Nawaz Sharif’s de-seating and disqualification by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case.
Yaqoob Khan Nasar has been serving as party’s vice president.
Yaqoob Nasar is the chief of Nasar tribe of Pashtuns in Balochistan based in Loralai.
On August 25, 2016, Nasar caught media limelight after making controversial comments about poor.
During a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, Nasar said the “poor are born to serve the rich,” which triggered a strong reaction and arguments from fellow members of the meeting.
During the meeting, PPP’s Senator Taj Haider argued how the country has become the property of the ruling elite, and that all decisions were made in the interests of the rich.
Senator Nasar remarked that if everyone were to become wealthy, there will be no one to serve the rich, grow wheat or to work as labourers.
“This is a system created by God, and He has made some people rich and others poor and we should not interfere in this system,” Senator Nasar said.
The PML-N senator’s remark triggered a strong reaction, with Senator Haider saying that socio-economic classes were man-made phenomena with which God had nothing to do with.
