LAHORE: For the first time a member of the Sharif family disclosed that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif might have been the prime minister of the country today instead of Imran Khan had he parted ways with his elder brother Nawaz Sharif (on the wish of the establishment).

The disclosure came from none other than Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz in the backdrop of “renewed efforts” by the powers that be to rope in the opposition leader in the National Assembly to play his role in bringing the 11-party opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to the negotiating table.

“Shehbaz Sharif has proved that he is loyal to his brother and his party. Had he deceived his brother, he would have been prime minister and they (establishment) would not have to make this Nalaik (Imran Khan) prime minister,” Maryam told journalists at Jati Umra on Saturday before her departure for Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to attend the death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on the invitation of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zaradri. This is the first time any member of the Sharif family will visit Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

Maryam said Shehbaz had rejected all such offers (from the establishment) and paid its price. “The proof of this is that Shehbaz is in jail along with his son (Hamza),” she said.

Says PML-N’s 159 MPAs, 95pc of MNAs have submitted resignations

Interestingly, when Nawaz Sharif was deposed in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case in 2017, the PML-N stalwarts close to Shehbaz had proposed his (Shehbaz) name for the premiership for the remaining period of the PML-N government but Nawaz handed over the coveted post to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and this “dismayed” him.

A PML-N leader who is considered close to Shehbaz, told Dawn that had Shehbaz’s “reconciliation approach” prevailed in the party, it would not have been on the collision course with the military establishment today. “The role of Shehbaz had already been marginalised since Maryam took over the party reins,” he said.

Durrani-Shehbaz meeting

Expressing surprise over PML-F secretary general Mohammad Ali Durrani’s meeting with Shehbaz at Kot Lakhpat jail, Maryam Nawaz said: “(Durrani’s visit) is an eye opener. He was allowed to meet Shehbaz but his (Shehbaz’s) family members are not permitted to see him in jail. And not only this visit of Durrani, we had also received messages from some ministers, offering us dialogue but we and the PDM are very much clear in our approach and there will be no dialogue with the government.”

Mr Durrani, who is considered close to the establishment, conveyed an important message of his party chief Syed Sibghatullah Rashidi (Pir Pagaro) to Shehbaz to play his role in stopping the opposition from resigning from the assemblies en mass as the move could wrap up the democratic system.

The Durrani-Shehbaz meeting was seen in political circles as an effort by the quarters concerned to avert the “collision course” between the opposition and government and bring the PDM on the negotiation table. Durrani claimed Shehbaz also “agreed to the proposal of Pir of Pagaro” but told him, “I cannot play any role as long as I am in jail.”

Punjab Prisons Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan clarified that there was no compulsion on Shehbaz to meet Durrani. “Shehbaz met Durrani on his wish. He is getting B-class facilities in jail and if he does not meet some of his family members, it is his choice,” said Chohan.

Participation in by-polls opposed

Maryam Nawaz also disclosed that most of the party men were against taking part in by-polls.

“The overwhelming majority in the party says it should not participate in the by-elections. We can sacrifice a few seats when we know this government is going. However, a final decision in this respect will be taken by PDM by Jan 3,” she said.

Replying to a question about resignations of the PML-N lawmakers, Maryam said she had received 159 resignations from the Punjab MPAs of the party. The PML-N has 165 members in the provincial house. The party had expelled five MPAs for meeting Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. She said 95 per cent of the party members of the National Assembly had also submitted their resignations to the leadership.

“The lawmakers of the PDM parties will submit their resignations by Dec 31 and the same will be submitted to the respective speakers in the light of a decision by the PDM,” she said.

The PDM has given a deadline to Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down by Jan 31, otherwise it would arrange a march on Islamabad.

Maryam Nawaz, who earlier claimed that this government would be sent packing in January, did not give any specific date when a reporter sought her comment.

“This government will soon be packed up,” she insisted.

Later, Maryam Nawaz left Lahore for Larkana. Addressing PML-N workers’ convention in Sukkur after reaching there following hours-long journey on motorway with a convoy, she claimed she and the PDM did not want the establishment to overthrow Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government would meet its fate and go home with their struggle supported by the people.

“This government is not true representative of the people so it cannot sustain the pressure of the people. There are strong chances that it will come down with the power of people well before our call for long march,” she said.

Waseem Shamsi also contributed to this report from Sukkur

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020