• Shehbaz Sharif elected PML-N president for four more years
• Says those criticising Dar ‘have no place in party’

ISLAMABAD: After being re-elected president of the PML-N for four years, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday the party post was temporary and would be given back to Nawaz Sharif upon his return to the country.

“Nawaz Sharif will return from abroad to lead the country to progress and prosperity after becoming prime minister for the fourth time,” he said while speaking on the occasion of intra-party elections held during a general council meeting of the PML-N at the party’s secretariat.

The general council was jointly chaired by PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif (online) and Shehbaz Sharif.

Maryam Nawaz was elected senior vice president and chief organiser, Ahsan Iqbal general secretary and Attaullah Tarar his deputy, and Marriyum Aurangzeb information secretary. Ishaq Dar was elected president of overseas and international affairs.

According to sources in the Election Commission of Pakistan, the PML-N intra-party polls were due on March 22 last year, but the ECP extended the date at the party’s request and allowed it to hold polls latest by May 14, 2022, and submit the related certificate by May 21 to meet the legal requirement to be eligible to obtain or retain a poll symbol, something the party failed to do even after passage of over a year.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz said he had intentionally delayed the meeting of PML-N general council and intra-party polls as he was waiting for his elder brother Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country so that the latter could take charge of the party again.

He said Nawaz Sharif was the builder of modern Pakistan and during his tenure as prime minister he eliminated energy shortages, laid down a network of roads, built infrastructure and developed agriculture, industry and other vital sectors of the economy.

The PM said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was working hard to steer the country’s economy out of the present difficulties. “Those who were unduly criticising Ishaq Dar have no place in the party,” he said without naming anyone in the party.

The prime minister said the government met all the conditions of the International Monetary Fund for meeting financial needs of the country.

He reminded that the PML-N spent its political capital for the sake of the state at a time when inflation was high and commodity prices skyrocketed.

Despite difficult economic conditions, the common man was given relief in the budget and salaries were raised by 35 per cent and pensions by 17pc, he noted, adding that the nation was brave and would emerge stronger from the current challenges.

He said his government signed an agreement with Azerbaijan to import gas and bought oil from Russia.

He criticised PTI chief Imran Khan for spreading lies and false propaganda for his ulterior motives and to mislead people. The PM said Nawaz Sharif had a comprehensive policy on Kashmir and he forcefully raised the issue of Kashmir at the international forums, including the United Nations.

On the occasion, Maryam Nawaz said party positions should not be given on the basis of relations, likes and dislikes, but capability and performance.

Calling her father the founder of modern Pakistan, she said: “If nine years’ rule of Nawaz is excluded, nothing will be found except ruins in Pakistan.”

Against the backdrop of May 9 riots by the supporters of Imran Khan on his arrest in a graft case, Maryam said former PM Nawaz Sharif had never provoked party workers to engage in acts of vandalism or burning houses when he was arrested.

“Similarly, Nawaz Sharif has not taken any help from any foreigner after losing power, but always prioritised national interest over political interest.”

Maryam Nawaz slammed Imran Khan for seeking help from US congressmen and British lawmakers and said Nawaz Sharif had never asked such help from any foreign power.

She expressed her gratitude to the party workers for once again selecting her as vice president, but urged party leaders to given party positions to the lower level as well. She lauded the government led by PM Shehbaz Sharif, highlighting their remarkable achievement of steering the country away from the brink of default despite inheriting severe economic hurdles.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023