Daily Times

LAHORE: Former PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif met on Sunday to discuss the possibility of taking back Javed Hashmi into the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The meeting between the Sharifs took place on Sunday. Sources said that Sharifs had discussed various issues, including upcoming hearings related to accountability cases and a possible meeting with Javed Hashmi on Monday. “It was discussed that Nawaz Sharif may invite Javed Hashmi to rejoin the party. However, certain reservations of other party members are also expected regarding the issue including that of Kalsoom Nawaz,” sources said.

According to sources from within the Sharif family, Javed Hashmi had turned down Kalsoom Nawaz’s request to stay in PML-N when he had decided to join the PTI. “Begum Kalsoom does not much interfere in party affairs, but she had exclusively insisted that Javed Hashmi should stay in PML-N. However, Hashmi had refused and walked off from Khawaja Saad’s house where the meeting was being held,” sources said. “Taking back Javed Hashmi in party will be contrary to the visionary politics of the PML-N. A meeting will not be refused if Javed Hashmi asks for it but his return to the party will only happen after approval from Begum Kalsoom Nawaz,” sources said. Nawaz Sharif also summoned a session of the PML-N in Islamabad on Monday (today). According to sources, the meeting is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal and Chaudhry Nisar. The PML-N leadership is expected to discuss matters pertaining to party’s future and other organisational issues, according to the sources. Sources also said that Nawaz is expected to travel to London on December 5.

On Saturday, the ruling PML-N announced the 109 members of its Central Working Committee (CWC) and 27 members of Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Published in Daily Times, December 4^th 2017.