Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Sunday held a rally to express solidarity with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The demonstration was led by former MNA Anjum Aqeel.

The rally started from F-11 Markaz and ended outside at National Press Club. Hundreds of PML-N workers participated in the demonstration.

The PML-N workers were carrying party flags, placards, banners, portraits of the former PM. They chanted slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing the gathering, Anjum Aqeel said that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had put the country back on the track of development and prosperity.

He said the projects which had been started by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would continue and loadshedding and terrorism would also be eliminated from the country.

He said that the PML-N would strengthen democracy in the country. “The evil design of our political opponents to derail democracy will be foiled. We are united under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who lives in the hearts of people,” he said.

He alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan was working on the agenda of foreign elements and wanted to weaken the country’s economy and derail democracy.

PML-N support: The PML-N and its allies are in a comfortable position to win the prime minister’s slot.

The nominee of the PML-N, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is going to be elected the next prime minister of the country on Tuesday. PML-N has 188 MNAs in the National Assembly. According to party position appearing on National Assembly’s website, Pakistan People’s Party has the support of 47 MNAs, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has 33 members.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) enjoys the support of 24 members. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has 13 MNAs, Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) has 5, Jamat-e-Islami 4, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) 3, the National People’s Party (NPP) 2, the Pakistan Muslim League 2, the Awami National Party 2, while the Balochistan National Party (BNP), the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), the Pakistan Muslim League Zia (PMl-Z), the National Party, the Awami Muslim League (AML), the Awami Jamhori Ittehad Pakistan and the All Pakistan Muslim League each have one MNA. There are eight independent members in the house as well. So, the PML-N candidate is easily going to win the PM’s slot with the help of allies JUI-F and PkMAP.

AJK prime minister: “Nawaz Sharif can be removed from the premiership, but not from hearts of the public,” said Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman on Saturday.

Addressing a joint news conference at the Kashmir House, they vowed to continue the struggle for political preeminence in the country. They said that Nawaz Sharif had improved credibility of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) by removing misperceptions of provinces about Punjab and making efforts for restoration of deposed judges. They said the PML-N chief had taken initiatives to bring AJK and GB in the national mainstream and made substantial increase in their development budget.

“There is no evidence of corruption against Nawaz Sharif. He was disqualified because he did not receive his salary from his son’s company,” they said. They regretted that Nawaz Sharif was deprived of his right to clarification under article 10-A of the Constitution. “Reservations of Sharif family about the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which probed the Panama papers case, turned out to be correct,” they said. They said Nawaz Sharif was the most popular leader of the country and had the ability and vision to keep the nation united.

Published in Daily Times, July 31^st 2017.