By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attained the role of Supreme leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz as the central working committee of the party appointed him Quaid, the leader for life. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz confirmed the development in a tweet after the meeting of the PML-N Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the Sharif family’s Model Town residence in eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday. “Raja Zafarul Haq, Prime Minister Abbasi and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s proposal elicited a resounding approval from [the] CWC,” Maryam said. PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq proposed Nawaz’s elevation as ‘quaid for life’, saying, “Mian Nawaz Sharif was, is and Inshallah will remain the leader of the PML-N”, Sharif’s daughter said. His proposal, followed by chants of “Wazir-e-Azam, Nawaz Sharif”, was endorsed by Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi, who said: “These are the peoples’ decisions. The courts had no right to take this decision — this our party’s decision.” The Central Working Committee elected the Chief Minister of Central Pakistan province of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif as the acting president of PML-N . The meeting was called following a Supreme Court ruling ordering the removal of Nawaz Sharif as party chief. Party leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Punjab Governor Rafiq Rajwana, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair and Railways Minister Saad Rafique, were present at the meeting chaired by PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq. PML-N senior leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, however, was not present at the meeting. The emergency measures kicked in after the Supreme Court on Feb 22 struck off a controversial amendment to the Elections Act, 2017 which had last year paved the way for Nawaz Sharif to resume leadership of the party after being disqualified in the Panamagate case in July 2017.
