“I stand with the party, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Nawaz, Abbasi exchange views on country’s political situation,

Nawaz Sharif will be in Pakistan before general elections: Tarar

LONDON – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday exchanged views on the country’s political situation.

“Decisions have not been taken, but consultations have taken place during my meeting with Nawaz Sharif,” Mr Abbasi said in a statement to the media following his meeting with Mr Sharif at Hasan Nawaz’s office.

“I also have a friendship with Nawaz Sharif, who is my leader. My meeting with Nawaz Sharif went well. No division exists inside the PML-N ranks,” he maintained.

Speaking about the elections, Mr Abbasi stated, “The country’s elections should be held in October or November.”

He said this while talking to media after meeting PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in London. The meeting took place at Hassan Nawaz’s office, where they discussed the current political situation.

Abbasi went on to say that he never indicated the formation of a new political party. Moreover, he announced his resignation as an official of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and stated that he would participate in elections if they were deemed meaningful.

The former PM highlighted that despite different parties holding power over the past two years, the country’s situation has not witnessed significant improvement. He underlined the need to establish a clear path for advancing the nation and called for collective engagement and dialogue among all stakeholders to steer the country towards progress.

Well-placed sources claimed that the former prime minister tendered his resignation due to disagreement over the purchase of LNG from Azerbaijan through an intergovernmental approach on June 18.  Expressed opposition to obtaining LNG from Azerbaijan via the state-owned Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL). Instead, he advocated for a private Pakistani company to handle the purchase of LNG cargo. The Petroleum Division, as per the sources, had declined to prepare the required summary as directed by Abbasi.

Talking to journalists following the meeting with the PML-N supremo, Abbasi said, “I stand with the party [PML-N]. I am a party worker.” The former premier asserted that he had no differences with the PML-N or the party’s supremo. “There are no differences within the party ranks,” Abbasi said, adding that he never hinted at launching a new political party.

It is reportedly considered that former finance minister Miftah Ismail and Abbasi are not in the good book of the party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

Earlier this year, Abbasi stepped down from the party’s post after Maryam was elevated as the PML-N’s chief organiser and senior vice president by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also PML-N president. During his today’s interaction with the journalists in London, the ex-premier said that he had already informed Nawaz that it would not be possible for him to stay in the party position if he would change leadership. Responding to another question, he said that holding general elections in the country in October-November are compulsory as per the law and the Constitution.

Lashing out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Abbasi said that the provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were dissolved to create anarchy in the country. To another question, the PML-N leader said that he would contest the upcoming elections if these are “meaningful”.

Meanwhile,

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said on Tuesday Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo and former Prime Minister Muhammd Nawaz Sharif would be in Pakistan before the upcoming general elections.

Talking to the media, Tarar said Sharif will lead the election campaign.

He said life-time disqualification bill was linked with the 18th Amendment and its implementation would be dependent on that amendment enforcement.