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LAHORE – The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday unanimously decided that the present government should not be given any more time in view of the plight of the people and the critical internal and external situation of the country.
Expressing full confidence in the leadership of party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) which had a virtual meeting empowered party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif to take all important decisions to send the government packing.
“There was a consensus among the participants of the meeting that in view of the plight of the people and the critical internal and external situation of the country, the present government should not be given any more time”, said party communiqué issued by party’s spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The meeting was co-chaired by party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif from London and party president Mian Nawaz Shehbaz Sharif from Lahore. The CEC authorised Mian Nawaz Sharif to take all constitutional, parliamentary, democratic and political steps to get rid of what it called the most incompetent and corrupt government as soon as possible.
The meeting also delegated the authority to President Mian Shehbaz Sharif to expedite the process of liaison and consultations with other political parties across the country to formulate a strategy based on national consensus at the national level and fulfill the public aspirations for liberation from the present government. It also authorised the party president to liaise with PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders and take them into confidence about the decisions of the party’s CEC.
It was also decided that an urgent meeting of the PDM would be convened as soon as possible so that the agenda of the meeting could be put into action from the platform of PDM at the national level in the light of unanimous and joint decisions.
The meeting decided to fully support and fully participate in the PDM’s March 23 Long March. The meeting also endorsed the decisions of reconstituting the party’s parliamentary board and setting up of a new manifesto committee.
Briefing reporters about the CEC decisions, party’s secretary general Ahsan Iqbal said that an MQM delegation will be meeting Mian Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore on Tuesday (Today).
Ahsan said that the CEC meeting took notice of the unbearable and uncontrollable inflation rate under the PTI government. It took stock of the consequences of PTI surrendering State Bank of Pakistan’s sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund, he added. The PML-N leaders, he said, expressed grave concern over the Rs16,000 billion loans piled on by the PTI government in just 3 and a-half years.
They also held the government’s criminal negligence responsible for the catastrophe at Murree. They were of the view that the unhindered corruption by PTI government and its mafia accomplices were a threat to the country and its international image. Ahsan said that the PML-N leaders took notice of how the Transparency International’s report would act as a deterrent to foreign investment in the country.
In addition to this, they also believed that the CPNE’s report regarding state of media freedom in Pakistan could also hurt the country internally and externally vis-à-vis trade pacts such as the GSP plus, he said.
He further stated that the PML-N Leaders expressed alarm and concern over the new wave of terrorism in the country and pointed out how the grave economic situation was another threat that could exacerbate this problem. They strongly condemned the acts of terrorism from across the border in Afghanistan. The CEC paid rich tribute to the Pakistani Armed Forces for sacrificing their lives for the safety and security of the country’s sovereignty and its people.
Ahsan said the CEC commended the unwavering unity, loyalty and cohesion of party members, workers and supporters. It urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to expedite the decision in the PTI Foreign Funding case which had been pending in the courts for the past 7 years despite clear evidence.
Following his political meeting with the PML-N leaders in Lahore on Saturday last, the PPP supremo Asif Ali Zardari went to the residence of Chaudhrys of Gujrat on Monday and held discussion over the current political situation in the country.
The dinner meeting was attended by Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Federal Ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema and Moonis Elahi, MNA Salik Hussain, Shafay Hussain and Zardari’s political secretary Rukhsana Bangash.
As per sources, Asif Zardari spent around two hours at the Chaudhrys’ residence and shared his party’s plans with them to oust the incumbent government. The issue of an in-house change both in Punjab and the center, long march and country’s economic situation were also discussed during the meeting, they said.
Apart from the larger meeting attended by all PML-Q leaders present there, an exclusive meeting of Asif Zardari with Chaudhry Shujat and Ch Parvez Elahi was also held separately to discuss some sensitive issues, according to the sources. They said that the PML-Q leaders remained non-committal on all the issues but agreed to continue the process of consultation in future as well. Sources said that another meeting was also likely between the heads of the two parties soon.
This was not the first encounter between Asif Ali Zardari and the PML-Q leaders in the last over three years. Last year, Ch Parvez Elahi visited Bilawal House Lahore to meet Asif Ali Zardari in the background of last Senate elections. The PPP leader later reciprocated the visit as he came to Chaudhrys’ residence to inquire after the health of Ch Shujat Hussain.
The Monday’s meeting, however, became significant as it took place at a time when the opposition parties, especially the PPP and the PML-N, are coming closer to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Given their public statements, the PML-Q leaders are standing firmly with the PTI as its trusted allies notwithstanding their criticism of the government over inflation and other issues.
A media release issued by PML-Q’s media wing said that Asif Ali Zardari inquired after the health of Ch Shujat Hussain and wished him a speedy recovery. It further said that Asif Zardari was received by Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Moonis Elahi, Tariq Bashir Cheema and Salik Hussain as he arrived at their residence.