Daily Times

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Mashhood, while explaining his position over his statement regarding the PML-N’s ties with establishment, said he was quoted ‘out of context’.

Mashhood’s clarification comes after his party distanced itself from his statement.

The former provincial minister, talking to a private TV channel, had claimed that the Sharif family’s ties with the establishment have been mended and the PML-N would be in position to form government in Punjab within two months.

“The TV channel twisted his statement,” said Mashhood adding he was trying to contact with the management of the channel.

Rana Mashhood’s claims

The former provincial minister said that the establishment was saddened over Shehbaz Sharif not being elected premier of the country.

He credited the former Punjab chief minister for ‘settling matters with establishment’ and claimed that the PML-N would be able to form government in Punjab with in two months, adding that Hamza Shehbaz would be PML-N’s candidate for the post.

He also claimed that the establishment has realised that ‘PML-N’s stance was right’.

PML-N distances itself from statement

The PML-N spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said the party leadership has distanced themselves from Mashhood’s claims terming them as his ‘personal opinion’.

“Rana Mashhood’s statement has nothing to do with the PML-N or its leadership,” she said.

She further added that the party has sought explanation from the former minister over his statement.

Speculations regarding deal

Speculations regarding the possibility of a deal are already in the air since the court granted bail to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryum Nawaz, who were sentenced to jail in the Avenfield properties reference.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has rejected the PML-N leader’s claims terming it ‘non-serious’.